CeSID: Announced Cabinet Reshuffle Is Regime’s Strategy Seeking To Bring No Policy Change

Bojan Klacar, executive director of the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), has said that frequent government reshuffles are a part of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s strategy, adding that such moves aim to maintain tensions in the society and influence the media agenda, rather than bring about any changes to the policy.

Speaking to the Oct. 3.1 issue of Belgrade daily Danas, Klacar said he was not expecting a potential cabinet reshuffle, announced by Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and President Aleksandar Vucic, to make any significant shifts in the current state policy.

“With talks about government reshuffle, the Progressives have been only maintaining tensions among officials and in the society and influencing the media agenda, but that is not about any important change to the current state policy. Therefore no shift in the policy should be expected following the announced cabinet shuffle,” Klacar said.

According to him, a cabinet reshuffle does not normally occur over realistic problems such as a coalition arrangement crisis, but when the ruling party assess that such move will have positive effects within the party structures. 

Vucevic has announced a government reshuffle for next spring, while last week Vucic said he backed the idea, noting that it should be done across all levels, from municipality heads, mayors, public companies’ directors, to cabinet ministers.