Ciric Tipped to Run Serbia's Economy Ministry

Nebojsa Ciric is likely to become Serbia's new Economy Minister, Balkan Insight has learned from a source in the ruling Progressive Party.

Short bio

Born in 1974 in the eastern town of Bor, he moved to Belgrade to go to mathematical high school. In 1996, he finished studies at the London School of Economics, LSE.

After, he returned to Belgrade and worked as a teaching assistant in macroeconomics at the private Braca Karic University.

In 2007 and 2008, as a non-party figure, he worked as assistant to the Minister of Economy.

In the Democrats-led government, from 2008 he served as State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy until 2011 when he was appointed Minister.

"Ciric is experienced in the field, so he has best chances," the source said, adding that the talks between Ciric and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic have been ongoing.

Ciric was Economy Minister in the Democratic Party-led government from March 2011 until the 2012 elections.

Lazar Krstic resigned as Finance Minister on July 12, citing differences with the Prime Minister over economic reforms. His sudden resignation came after the government gave a green light to a new labour law that has resulted in union protests.

Vucic then said the then Economy Minister, Dusan Vujovic, would move to Finance, while the government would appoint a new Economy Minister by the end of the month.

By law, the Prime Minister must announce the new candidate for the post no more than 15 days after the government agreed the resignation of the previous one.

Krstic was not the first Economy Minister to resign over the pace and form of reforms.

A previous version of the draft Labour Law resulted in the resignation of the then Economy...