Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that elections will be held in Serbia this year and are most likely to take place in the autumn, adding that he does not rule out the possibility of early parliamentary or presidential elections.
“We are going to the elections this year. I believe all elections will be held in the autumn. That is the more likely option,” Vucic said in an interview with TV Blic.
Vucic said the vote could be held between October and December. Asked whether he would resign from the presidency to allow presidential and parliamentary elections to be held at the same time, he said that option remained open.
“I do not rule out that possibility. I do not want to shorten my mandate. Either I will resign or I won’t – and that’s it,” he said.
Serbia last held parliamentary elections in December 2023, while Vucic was re-elected president in 2022.
Calls for dialogue
Vucic said he would invite coalition partners and opposition parties to talks on key political issues, arguing that problems in democratic societies should be resolved through dialogue.
“First, I will call the coalition partners because there are certain disagreements there,” he said.
He added that he would also invite the parliamentary opposition, although he expressed scepticism that they would respond, saying he had made similar invitations in the past without success.
According to Vucic, the opposition refuses to engage in dialogue because it lacks ideas and has not sufficiently explained its positions to voters.
Government criticism and responsibility
In a separate interview segment, Vucic defended his harsh criticism of government ministers during a recent cabinet meeting, saying ministers “have no right to rest when times are difficult”.
“They have no right to rest when it is hard,” he said, explaining that his remarks were meant as support rather than hostility toward the government.
Vucic said he spoke “from the position of someone who supports the government” and who often takes political responsibility on its behalf during difficult periods.
He added that, as president, he had a stronger democratic mandate than the government, having won more votes than the parties forming the ruling majority, giving him the right to reflect public dissatisfaction.
‘General Staff’ case
Vucic also commented on the so-called “General Staff” case, saying he was ready to take full responsibility for the project, which is currently under legal scrutiny.
“I have absolute responsibility for the ‘General Staff’ case, and I am waiting for an indictment to be filed against me,” he said. “I will not grant myself a pardon. I would grant it to everyone else, but not to myself.”
He denied allegations that anyone had financially benefited from the project and dismissed claims that he owns property abroad, saying he does not have a house in Spain.
During the interview, Vucic also said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had sent him a message congratulating Serbia’s water polo team on winning the European Championship final.