Vučić on the SPS' decision to run independently in the elections: I see no reason for drama, the SNS does not expect anyone's help

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today that he sees no reason for any drama after the decision of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) to run independently in the upcoming elections, but added that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) does not expect anyone's help after the elections to form a government.

Vučić said that the SPS "always independently" participated in the parliamentary elections and that the decision of the party's leadership "is not something new."

"I have no right to interfere in the internal affairs of other political parties, but I see no reason for any drama, especially because someone has made the decision to run for office independently. I wish them all the best, we will fight to defeat them like everyone else. We are not a so-called student list without students that forbids people from running for office or exerts any pressure," Vučić told reporters in Belgrade after visiting the construction site of the University Children's Clinic "Tiršova 2".

He said that the SPS is a "party for respect" and that people who vote for the Socialists are "patriotic, state-building oriented."

"When we talked earlier and had a closer or joint approach, we always hesitated whether to go to the elections together or separately, how to attract more votes, although to be completely frank, this time it is not about that. What surprises me, I would not talk about publicly. We are not closing the door to anyone, but we do not expect anyone's help after the elections. If we do not have a majority ourselves, it will be clear to us that we have lost the majority," Vučić said.

He added that the SPS decision is a "clear signal" to the SNS that it must independently secure a majority in the new parliament.

"This is a clear signal to us that we will have to win and secure a majority ourselves if we want to continue important jobs and projects for Serbia. You need to have about 46 percent of the votes on your own to have more than 125 MPs. It is certain that we could count on cooperation with Istvan Pastor's party, these are our traditional partners who always keep their word and to whom we keep our word," said Vučić.

He rejected assessments that SPS Vice President Branko Ružić, who publicly criticized the situation in the country and the government's attitude towards the student movement, had taken over the party.

"I do not agree that Ružić took over that party. As much influence as he had a year, a year and a half ago, he still has it today. They just skillfully played the game of fake commissions, statutory, this and that, and stories for small children so that they could always be someone who will one day decide for one side or the other. I lead a different policy, a policy based on those who have made decisions, principles, on content and not on how to be in power. I do not want to be in power and have to cooperate with the blockaders, to lead Pol Pot's policy in which any different opinion will be banned," the president said.

Vučić also said that a decision on the possible continuation of cooperation with the SPS will be made after the elections.

"Whether we continue or not, that will be decided after the elections are over. It's possible that they will be with someone else, it's possible that they will be with us, but whoever wins the elections will decide that, that's the most important thing," the president said.

Vučić added that the construction of Tiršova 2, along with the equipment, will cost around 150 million euros, and that the facility should be open by Vidovdan next year.

"That is an incredible step forward. It will be the best hospital in Southeast Europe, one of the key health infrastructure projects we have done in recent years," the president said.