Djordjevic: Vucic loses his presidential functions by resigning, dissolved Assembly continues work

Photo: Nikola Tomic

Miroslav Djordjevic, chairman of the High Prosecutorial Council, said over the weekend that from the moment of his resignation, the president of the Republic ceases to hold any public function. On the other hand, the National Assembly, after it gets dissolved, continues to carry out urgent tasks until a new convocation has been constituted.

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When the president resigns, he immediately loses all presidential functions and has no power to dissolve the National Assembly. At that point, the role of the president of the Republic with reduced powers is assumed by the President of the National Assembly. However, it is impossible for both the National Assembly and the government to be dissolved at the same time, Djordjevic stressed.

The National Assembly and the government, even after dissolution, remain in a technical mandate, performing all necessary current tasks. Deputies continue to work until a new National Assembly is formed, Djordjevic explained.

Speaking about the possible resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic, Djordjevic said that all mechanisms are clearly defined by the Constitution and laws. The resignation is submitted to the president of the National Assembly, who assumes the status of Acting President of the Republic. This can last up to three months, during which presidential elections are held.

The president of the Republic calls parliamentary elections based on the proposal coming from the prime minister. If the president resigns, those powers cease, but he can call parliamentary elections before resigning, Djordjevic added.

If political actors want early parliamentary and presidential elections to be held simultaneously in the fall, the president needs to dissolve the National Assembly and call elections, and then resign.

The president of the National Assembly takes over certain presidential powers, but not all, including the right of suspensive veto, which prevents the possibility of the president of the National Assembly vetoing themselves. As acting president of the Republic, the president of the National Assembly calls elections only when the president is under obligation to do so, which is not the case this time, Djordjevic explained.

Constitutionally and legally, it is possible to organize both elections in the fall, as well as only presidential or only parliamentary elections. If Vucic resigns without dissolving the National Assembly, early parliamentary elections can be held only after a new president is elected, which is currently the only limitation, Djordjevic stressed.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)