Serbian DefMin denies plans to form own party

Stefanovic told the Prva TV morning show that the reports by some media that he was forming his own party are “absolute fabrications”. He added that a campaign was being waged against him with claims that he was involved in surveillance over President and SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic as well as what he said was “the worst lie” by Serbian Radical Party (SRS) leader Vojislav that he was involved in the murder of lawyer Misa Ognjenovic.

Besides the reports of Stefanovic allegedly planning to set up his own political organization, investigative news media reported over the past few months that his close associates while he was internal affairs minister were alleged to have been involved in a surveillance operation against Vucic. A government reshuffle after the wire-tapping scandal broke out saw Stefanovic trading places with Aleksandar Vulin (viewed as a close associate of the president but not a member of the SNS). Stefanovic has repeatedly denied a falling out with Vucic.

Stefanovic told TV Prva that his attitude and relationship with Vucic had not changed, adding that the president and SNS leader is his “friend, boss, the president” and that he owes him a lot because he would not be in politics without him. He said that he “absolutely trusts” Vucic’s policies.