Vucevic: Gov't reshuffle to be comprehensive, not cosmetic

INDJIJA - Serbian PM Milos Vucevic said on Thursday an announced government reshuffle would be comprehensive and deep rather than "cosmetic", and that the past two and a half months had been a good test for government ministers and an indicator of their individual performances.

"Once the government has been in office for a year, we will have a good picture of who did what or how they did it, and what we need to do in the future," Vucevic told reporters in Indjija, northwestern Serbia, where he visited a Toyo Tires plant.

Asked to comment on President Aleksandar Vucic's announcement of a major reshuffle that would see personnel changes in the government, Vucevic said he had discussed the government with Vucic on several occasions and that, many times, the president had criticised him for the behaviour or lack of effort by some ministers.

"We have discussed the general organisation of the government and, in one of my interviews, I have raised the issue of whether a smaller cabinet should be considered, whether we should also amend the law on the government and the ministries, or whether the issue will be current at the time a new government is elected, which is most often the case," Vucevic said.

He also said the reshuffle would be more comprehensive than expected and not a "cosmetic" one.

It will not only affect ministers, but also state secretaries, assistant ministers and directors of public enterprises, organisations and institutions, Vucevic explained.