Bajatović continues to lead Srbijagas because that is how it suits Moscow – Economy

Interpreting the announcement by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Zorana Mihajlovic, that she will seek the removal of certain directors of public companies, the expert public believes that this refers mainly to Dusan Bajatovic, director of Srbijagas and Stevan Dukic, director of Transportgas, but he doubts he will. due to the Russian factor that plays an important role in the Serbian gas sector.

Minister Mihajlović recently stated that she was not satisfied with the fact that certain companies did not achieve the results that were expected of them and that, therefore, some directors would be replaced, and not along partisan lines or other interests. The assumptions that Zorana Mihajlović thinks primarily of Dušan Bajatović are fueled by her statement that “the reforms in Srbijagas are six to seven years late and that the company has not separated its activities, that is, it does not operate in accordance with the Public Companies Law “.

As she explained, Srbijagas has 13 affiliated companies, four of which are 100% owned and one is Transportgas, which she says should be separated from Srbijagas. As a reminder, Minister Mihajlović has stated on several occasions that she will seek sanctions for the director of Transportgas, Stevan Dukić, who on two occasions did not respond to her invitation to meetings with directors of companies in the energy sector in the Government of Serbia.

Economic analyst Branko Pavlović says for Danas that Minister Mihajlović’s statement that she will demand certain changes, but not along partisan lines, is correct.

– It’s not about the fact that Bajatović is a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia, that bothers Zorana Mihajlović. It bothers her because she represents the interests of the United States of America in the Government of Serbia, which are opposed to Russian interests. As director of Srbijagas, Dušan Bajatović is acceptable to Moscow, which automatically means that he is not acceptable to Minister Mihajlović. This is the main reason why you insist on certain changes in the energy sector and why you criticize the work of Srbijagas and Bajatović. It is completely clear that she is sitting in government not because she is a politically important person in Serbia or because the public supports her, but because she is on the same line with American interests. It has no other support than that of Washington, says our interlocutor.

He, on the other hand, does not believe that Zorana Mihajlović will succeed in making her intentions come true, that is, that when it comes down to it, the president of Serbia, as the most powerful political actor in power, simply will not allow it.

– He will surely demand your resignation. But when it comes to Bajatović, Ana Brnabić formally, and in essence President Vučić, will not meet their needs. Vučić will keep Bajatović in the post of director of Srbijagas because in that way he sends a message to Moscow that says: “It is true that Washington is present in the Serbian government through Zorana Mihajlović, but that in no way can endanger the Russian interests in the energy sector “. The proof of this is that Bajatović stays where he is – says Pavlović.

According to him, the only chance that Bajatović will be replaced is that Vučić and the Russians agree to be replaced by someone who also has the support of Moscow.

Danas’ interlocutor close to the Serbian government, who wishes to remain anonymous, also believes that Bajatović will not be replaced because his participation as director of Srbijagas is a matter of the coalition agreement of the Serbian Progressive Party, of which Zorana Mihajlović is a member of the SPS . According to the assertion of our interlocutor, Minister Mihajlović’s attacks on Bajatović, who is known as a high-income manager, elevates her and the rating of the Serbian Progressive Party.

Consequently, Zorana Mihajlović’s statements against Bajatović and Dukić are not her independent act, but something for which she has the support of both the party and the President of Serbia, Vučić. In that attack, Minister Mihajlović will not be detained from the top of the party until what she stands for is evaluated as something that would not be popular for progressives and good for their coalition relations, our source claims.

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