Serbia's conservative leader sworn in as president

Record ID: 877322

  • Title: Serbia's conservative leader sworn in as president
  • Date: 31st May 2017
  • Summary: SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, IVICA DACIC, (RIGHT) AND INTERIOR MIINSTER, NEBOJSA STEFANOVIC, (LEFT) CONGRATULATING AND HUGGING VUCIC
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2017 14:58
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • City: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026J62R7D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Serbia's conservative leader Aleksandar Vucic was sworn in as the country's president on Wednesday (May 31), a day after he resigned as prime minister. He had served two incomplete terms starting in April 2014.
    Addressing the parliament and dignitaries, Vucic promised to uphold regional stability and take the country closer towards a membership in the European Union, but also continue nurturing close ties with Russia and China.
    He also pledged to work toward resolving outstanding issues with Kosovo, Serbia's former province that declared independence in 2008, nine years after NATO bombing drove out Serb forces fighting an insurgency of majority ethic Albanians. The text of the oath included Serbia's claim of sovereignty over Kosovo.
    In an interview with Reuters on Tuesday (May 30), Vucic also highlighted the important role the European Union plays in maintaining stability in the Balkans, in which virtually all countries are either members or aspiring members.
    By moving from prime minister to president, Vucic left the office with far greater formal powers. He is, however, widely expected to appoint a loyal ally as prime minister and try to keep a tight rein on government through control over his Progressive Party.
    Opponents describe him as an authoritarian who controls the local media.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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