The sitting was opened to the sounds of the national anthem, “God of Justice”.

The sitting was chaired by the oldest Member of Parliament Zaharije Trnavcevic, who was assisted by the youngest Members of Parliament from the four electoral lists which won the most parliamentary seats: Jelena Budimirovic, from the Let’s Get Serbia Moving – Tomislav Nikolic electoral list, Jovana Joksimovic, from the Choice For Better Life – Boris Tadic electoral list, Nevena Stojanovic, from the Ivica Dacic – SPS, PUPS, US electoral list and Bojana Bozanic, from the Democratic Party of Serbia – Vojislav Kostunica electoral list, as well as the National Assembly Secretary General Veljko Odalovic.

TThe following agenda was set for the sitting:

1. Verification of the mandates of the Members of Parliament,
2. Election of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia,
3. Election of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia,
4. Appointment of the Secretary General of the National Assembly,
5. Election of members of the National Assembly’s working bodies,
6. Election of members of standing parliamentary delegations to international institutions.

The constituting sitting was attended by the members of the Republic Electoral Commission and students of the Belgrade Faculty of Law.

In order to verify the MPs’ mandates, the National Assembly formed a Commission to establish whether the data in the certificate on the election of each MP coincides with the data in the Report of the Republic Electoral Commission on the conducted elections, comprising: Gojko Radic, from the Let’s Get Serbia Moving – Tomislav Nikolic electoral list, Nenad Konstantinovic, from the Choice For Better Life – Boris Tadic electoral list and Milisav Petronijevic, from the Ivica Dacic – SPS, PUPS, US electoral list.

The Commission ascertained that all the 250 MPs’ certificates comply with the certificates issued by the Republic Electoral Commission and submitted a Report on it to the National Assembly.

Based on the Commission’s Report, the National Assembly verified the mandates of all the Members of Parliament of the new legislature, and with the verification of their mandates, the National Assembly was constituted.

The new MPs took the following oath of office:

"I do solemnly swear that I will perform the duty of Member of Parliament with devotion, honourably, truly and faithfully to the Constitution, defend human and minority rights and freedoms of citizens, and to the best of my knowledge and ability, serve the citizens of Serbia, the truth and justice".

Addressing the newly-elected MPs, the Chair, Zaharije Trnavcevic congratulated them on taking the oath of office and reminded them that they were all elected together on 6 May and given the voters’ trust to manage public affairs, the relationship between the state and the citizens and to dedicate themselves to the issues most important for Serbia’s fate.
The Chair, Zaharije Trnavcevic, invited the MPs to attend the First Special Sitting of the National Assembly, where the President of the Republic, elected in the election conducted on 6 and 20 May 2012, would take the oath before the National Assembly, after which the constituting sitting was adjourned.

Continuation of the First (Constituting) Sitting

The First (Constituting) Sitting of the National Assembly was continued on 23 July 2012, starting at 10:15 am.

Before moving on to the agenda, the Chair of the First Sitting, MP Zaharije Trnavcevic, informed the MPs that, in line with Article 22 of the Rules of Procedure, the following Parliamentary Groups have been formed at the National Assembly:

1. Serbian Progressive Party Parliamentary Group, with Aleksandar Vucic as Head, and Dr Jorgovanka Tabakovic as Deputy Head;

2. Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, with Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic as Head and Balsa Bozovic as Deputy Head;

3. Socialist Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Ivica Dacic as Head and Prof. Dr Zarko Obradovic as Deputy Head;

4. Democratic Party of Serbia - Vojislav Kostunica Parliamentary Group, with Slobodan Samardzic as Head and Jovan Palalic as Deputy Head;

5. Liberal Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, with Cedomir Jovanovic as Head and Nenad Milic as his deputy;

6. United Regions of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Mladjan Dinkic as Head;

7. Party of United Pensioners of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Dr Jovan Krkobabic as Head;

8. Social Democratic Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Miodrag Mijatovic as Head and Vesna Milekic as his deputy;

9. New Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Velimir Ilic as Head and Miroslav Markicevic as his deputy;

10. United Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Dragan Markovic Palma as Head and Petar Petrovic as his deputy;

11. Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians Parliamentary Group, with Balint Pasztor as Head and Laszlo Varga as his deputy;

12. Serbian Renewal Movement – Demo-Christian Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Aleksandar Jugovic as Head and Olgica Batic as his deputy;

13. League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Parliamentary Group, with Nenad Canak as Head and Aleksandra Jerkov as his deputy.

Election of National Assembly Speaker

In the continuation of the proceedings, the Chair, Zaharije Trnavcevic informed the MPs that, in line with Article 9 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, he had received a single nomination for National Assembly Speaker. MA Nebojsa Stefanovic, elected MP from the Let's Get Serbia Moving - Tomislav Nikolic Electoral List, was nominated for National Assembly Speaker. The representative of the nominator, the Head of the Serbian Progressive Party Parliamentary Group Aleksandar Vucic elaborated on the nomination for National Assembly Speaker.

Having debated the issue and established the candidate list for National Assembly Speaker, the National Assembly decided to vote openly, by roll call. Following the vote, the Chair ascertained that MA Nebojsa Stefanovic was elected National Assembly Speaker by 142 MPs’ votes.

Having been elected National Assembly Speaker, MA Nebojsa Stefanovic took over the chairing of the sitting and addressed the MPs saying that in his capacity as Speaker he would do all in his power to make sure the National Assembly is ruled by the spirit of democracy and tolerance. The Speaker added that control of the executive, strengthening democracy both in the National Assembly and the country and opening the National Assembly up further to the public should be the three key tasks in the upcoming period.

Election of National Assembly Deputy Speakers

After recess, National Assembly Speaker MA Nebojsa Stefanovic reminded the MPs that article 14 of the Rules of Procedure stipulates that the National Assembly determines the number of Deputy Speakers at the proposal of the National Assembly Speaker. In line with it, the Speaker proposed that the current legislature of the National Assembly should have five Deputy Speakers.

Speaker Stefanovic informed the MPs that, in line with Article 15 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, he had received five nominations for National Assembly Deputy Speakers, viz.: MP Konstantin Arsenovic, elected from the Ivica Dacic - Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS), United Serbia (US) Electoral List, Vesna Kovac, elected from the United Regions of Serbia - Mladjan Dinkic Electoral List, Dr Zarko Korac, elected from the Cedomir Jovanovic - Overturn Electoral List, Dr Nenad Popovic, elected from the Democratic Party of Serbia - Vojislav Kostunica Electoral List and Gordana Comic, elected from the Choice For Better Life - Boris Tadic Electoral List.

Having discussed the third item on the agenda, the MPs adopted the proposal that the National Assembly should have five Deputy Speakers in the current legislature. Speaker Stefanovic established the candidate list for National Assembly Deputy Speakers, and the MPs decided to conduct the vote openly, by roll call.

After the vote, the National Assembly Speaker noted that following MPs have been elected National Assembly Deputy Speakers: Konstantin Arsenovic, Vesna Kovac, Dr Zarko Korac, Dr Nenad Popovic and Gordana Comic.

The National Assembly Speaker informed the MPs that Jana Ljubicic had resigned her post as MP.

Appointment of National Assembly Secretary General

In the continuation of the sitting, the National Assembly debated the fourth item on the agenda - Appointment of National Assembly Secretary General. National Assembly Speaker MA Nebojsa Stefanovic nominated Jana Ljubicic, Bachelor of Laws from Belgrade, for Secretary General, who was appointed to the post by 131 MPs’ votes.

The Speaker congratulated the new Secretary General on the behalf of the MPs and himself, and wished her success in her efforts, at the same time thanking the former Secretary General Veljko Odalovic.

Election of Members of the National Assembly’s Working Bodies

The National Assembly continued the proceedings with a debate on the fifth item on the agenda - Election of members of the National Assembly’s working bodies. After the MPs have received the Proposal of the Decision on the election of members and deputy members of Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, the National Assembly Speaker opened the single debate on the Decision Proposal. Having completed the single debate, the MPs adopted the Decision Proposal by a majority of votes.

Election of Members of Standing Parliamentary Delegations of the National Assembly to International Institutions

By the end of the day, the National Assembly had also completed a debate on the sixth item on the agenda - Election of members of standing parliamentary delegations to international institutions. Having received the Proposal of the Decision determining the composition of the standing delegations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia to international parliamentary institutions, submitted by the National Assembly Speaker, the MPs completed a single debate on the Decision Proposal. Having completed the single debate, the MPs adopted the Decision Proposal by a majority of votes.

As the National Assembly had completed the discussion on all the items on the agenda for the sitting and ruled on them, National Assembly Speaker MA Nebojsa Stefanovic concluded the First Sitting of the National Assembly.