Serbia: Details of the cabinet reshuffle
Overview:
Prime Minister Cvetkovic has outlined the details of the new cabinet following a long-awaited reshuffle. The cabinet will be considerably smaller than before. It is hoped that this will reduce administrative costs and improve co-ordination. However, there are grounds for doubt that a reshuffle itself will improve the government’s implementation of its own economic program. The reshuffle was delayed for months by a failure to agree the new line-up amongst the numerous parties of the coalition (the DS/G-17+/SPS/PUPS-JS coalition is also supported by a number of independent deputies and representatives of minorities). The government has also backed down on a number of occasions when reforms have been met by public resistance. The government must become more decisive not just smaller.