Dacic: Socialist Party Wants to Keep Cooperating with Progressives, We Will Sanction Any Deviation

Ivica Dacic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dacic said on Nov. 1 that there was unity in the party concerning the implementation of a joint policy with the Serbian Progressive Party and that any "deviation" or "anything that can cause negative reactions" would be sanctioned.

Dacic told Prva TV that he had acted correctively regarding a recent appearance of Socialist party senior official and MP Branko Ruzic on N1 TV.

"I am acting correctively, I said already on day one that the Socialist Party of Serbia was proud of its cooperation with the Serbian Progressive Party. We are one of the mainstays of the political organization rallied around Serbia's interests. We want continued cooperation with the Progressive party. We will sanction anything that can cause negative reactions. It is important for the party that there is unity over the implementation of the common policy," said Dacic, who is also the interior minister.

He went on to say that he had told the party leadership at a recent meeting that everyone had to follow a single policy and that there was "no deviation." "That proposal of mine was supported unanimously, everyone voted for it. Even Ruzic voted [for it]," said Dacic.

During said appearance on N1 TV, Ruzic said that Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Sapic was leading an infantile policy, and that the authorities should arrest Freedom and Justice Party President Dragan Djilas if it was true that he had stolen 619 million euros.

When asked what he thought about Aleksandar Vucic, Ruzic said it was an established system with clear subordination, which functioned in a way that produced results and positive effects.

After that, the pro-regime tabloids accused Ruzic of attacking the government he had been a part of for 12 years now, of defending Djilas and (businessman and media mogul Dragan) Solak, and of calling his colleagues from the ruling coalition political dilettantes.