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

The sitting was chaired by the oldest Member of Parliament Milan Korac, who was assisted by the youngest Members of Parliament from the four electoral lists which won the most parliamentary seats: Katarina Susnjar from the ALEKSANDAR VUCIC – FUTURE WE BELIEVE IN (Serbian Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Socialist Movement) electoral list, Nevena Stojanovic from the IVICA DACIC – “Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS), United Serbia (US)” electoral list, Jovana Jovanovic from the “WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY – FOR DEMOCRATIC SERBIA” electoral list and Aleksandar Senic from the BORIS TADIC – New Democratic Party – Greens, LSV – Nenad Canak, Together for Serbia, VMDK, Together for Vojvodina, Democratic Left of Roma electoral list, as well as the National Assembly Deputy Secretaries General Radoslav Vujovic and Mladen Mladenovic.

The National Assembly set the following agenda for the sitting:

1. Verification of the terms of office of the Members of Parliament;
2. Election of the Speaker of the National Assembly;
3. Election of the Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly;
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 Deputy Chairperson of the Republic Electoral Commission Tamara Stojcevic, Deputy Secretary of the Republic Electoral Commission Veljko Odalovic, as well as the members of the Republic Electoral Commission. The sitting was also attended by students of the Belgrade Faculty of Law.

In order to verify the MPs’ terms of office, 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: Jana Ljubicic from the ALEKSANDAR VUCIC – FUTURE WE BELIEVE IN (Serbian Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Socialist Movement) electoral list, Milisav Petronijevic from the IVICA DACIC – “Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS), United Serbia (US)” electoral list and Vesna Martinovic from the “WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY – FOR DEMOCRATIC SERBIA” 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 terms of office of all the Members of Parliament of the new legislature, and with the verification of their terms of office, 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, Milan Korac, congratulated them on taking the oath of office, wished them successful cooperation and informed them that the First Sitting of the National Assembly would be continued on 23 April at 10 am.
The First Sitting of the National Assembly was continued on 23 April 2014, starting at 10 am. Before moving on to the agenda, the Chair, MP Milan Korac asked the MPs to pay respects to the late Member of Parliament Dr Jovan Krkobabic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and President of the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia, with a minute of silence.

The Chair of the First Sitting informed the MPs that, in line with Article 22 of the Rules of Procedure, the following Parliamentary Groups have been formed in the National Assembly:

1. Serbian Progressive Party Parliamentary Group, with Zoran Babic as Head, and Aleksandar Martinovic as Deputy Head;

2. Socialist Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Dr Dijana Vukomanovic as Head and Djordje Milicevic as Deputy Head;

3. Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, with Dragan Djilas as Head and Natasa Vuckovic as Deputy Head;

4. Boris Tadic – New Democratic Party, Together for Serbia, Greens of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Marko Djurisic as Head and Prof. Dr Janko Veselinovic as Deputy Head;

5. Party of United Pensioners of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Milan Krkobabic as Head and Konstantin Arsenovic as Deputy Head;

6. Social Democratic Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Dr Miodrag Mijatovic as Head and Milena Bicanin as his deputy;

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

8. New Serbia Parliamentary Group, with Miroslav Markicevic as Head and Dubravka Filipovski as his deputy;

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

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

11. League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Parliamentary Group, with Nenad Canak as Head and Bojan Kostres as his deputy;

12. SDA Sandzak – Party of Democratic Action Parliamentary Group, with Dr Sulejman Ugljanin as Head and Riza Halimi as his deputy.

Election of National Assembly Speaker

In the continuation of the proceedings, the Chair, Milan Korac 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. Maja Gojkovic, elected MP from the ALEKSANDAR VUCIC – FUTURE WE BELIEVE IN (Serbian Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Socialist Movement) Electoral List, was nominated for National Assembly Speaker. The representative of the nominator, MP Veroljub Arsic 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, Milan Korac ascertained that Maja Gojkovic was elected National Assembly Speaker by 194 MPs’ votes.

Having been elected National Assembly Speaker, Maja Gojkovic took over the chairing of the sitting and addressed the MPs. Thanking them for their support, Maja Gojkovic said it was both a great privilege and responsibility to be the first among equals. The National Assembly Speaker said that she would promote the development of democracy in the National Assembly and in Serbia, as well as strive to maintain the spirit of tolerance and equality among all the MPs in their rights and duties in the Nation al Assembly.

Election of National Assembly Deputy Speakers

After recess, National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic 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, having consulted with the heads of the parliamentary groups, the Speaker proposed that the current legislature of the National Assembly should have six Deputy Speakers.
The National Assembly Speaker informed the MPs that, in line with Article 15 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, she had received six nominations for National Assembly Deputy Speakers, viz.: MP Veroljub Arsic, elected from the ALEKSANDAR VUCIC – FUTURE WE BELIEVE IN (Serbian Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Socialist Movement) Electoral List, MA Igor Becic, elected from the ALEKSANDAR VUCIC – FUTURE WE BELIEVE IN (Serbian Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Socialist Movement) Electoral List, Konstantin Arsenovic, elected from the IVICA DACIC – “Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS), United Serbia (US)” Electoral List, Gordana Comic, elected from the “WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY – FOR DEMOCRATIC SERBIA” Electoral List, Ninoslav Stojadinovic, elected from the BORIS TADIC – New Democratic Party – Greens, LSV – Nenad Canak, Together for Serbia, VMDK, Together for Vojvodina, Democratic Left of Roma Electoral List and Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic, elected from the ALEKSANDAR VUCIC – FUTURE WE BELIEVE IN (Serbian Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Socialist Movement) Electoral List.
Having discussed it, the MPs adopted the proposal that the National Assembly should have six Deputy Speakers in the current legislature. Speaker Gojkovic established the candidate list for National Assembly Deputy Speakers, and the MPs decided, at the National Assembly Speaker’s proposal, to conduct the vote on the Deputy Speakers openly, by roll call.

After the vote, the National Assembly Speaker noted that following MPs have been elected National Assembly Deputy Speakers, by 213 votes: Konstantin Arsenovic, Veroljub Arsic, MA Igor Becic, Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic, Ninoslav Stojadinovic and Gordana Comic.

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 Maja Gojkovic nominated Jana Ljubicic, Bachelor of Laws from Belgrade, for Secretary General, who was appointed to the post by 199 MPs’ votes.

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 the 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.

The National Assembly Speaker informed the MPs that the death of Dr Jovan Krkobabic would be honoured by a commemorative gathering on Thursday, 24 April, at 11 am.

The First Sitting of the National Assembly continued on 24 April 2014, at noon.

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

The National Assembly completed a debate on and proceeded to adopt the Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the election of members and deputy members of the Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The National Assembly continued the proceedings by debating 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 National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic, 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, the National Assembly Speaker concluded the First Sitting of the National Assembly.