In an exclusive interview for Euronews, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić set the record straight on the turmoil and reiterated his call for dialogue with demonstrators, nine months into ongoing country-wide protests.
Serbia and its government remain committed to dialogue despite demonstrators’ refusal to accept his offers for public debate or early elections, the Western Balkan country and EU membership hopeful’s President Aleksandar Vučić told Euronews in Belgrade on Monday.
To that end, he has again reiterated his offer to the demonstrators to sit down for a public debate in an open conversation, which he said he has put on the table many times before.
“This was not my first call. Actually, it was my fifth or sixth call for a dialogue, for an open conversation,” Vučić explained. “I offered them even an open TV debate. They can pick the premise, they can pick the studio.”
“And I was ready to discuss it publicly because I believe that talks, conversation, dialogue have no alternative at all.”
Despite the fact that his latest offer for a public parlay was rejected, he said the extended olive branch still stands. “My offer will remain until they accept it because one day they will have to speak to someone.”
The series of protests across Serbia was initially in response to the accident in the northern regional capital of Novi Sad, where a train station awning collapsed in November 2024, resulting in the deaths of 16 people.
The demonstrations, led mainly by university students, were largely peaceful, but have grown violent in recent weeks.
In mid-August, an uptick in physical confrontations between protesters and the police, amid the destruction of Vučić’s SNS party offices in places like Novi Sad and the city of Valjevo, resulted in scores of injured police officers and dozens of arrests.
“Any kind of violence that we saw in the streets, is not good for this country,” Vučić told Euronews. “If you see someone setting fire or throwing stones against the premises of the ruling party or attacking people which were sitting inside and discussing their own issues, this is not a good image.”
“This is not a good situation for Serbia in order to attract new investments, in order to attract new tourists, to say, come on, we are one of the safest countries in Europe, come to our place. These are not good.”
Despite accusations of law enforcement using excessive force to quell the unrest and destruction of property, Vučić backed the police, saying they remained calm despite direct threats of violence by the protesters.
“The reaction of Serbian police to that of other big EU police (forces) is almost incomparable,” Vučić explained.
“I’m very proud of the behaviour and stances that were taken by our police and their patience, and I think that it’s a miracle that we, having in mind the level of aggressiveness of protesters, we kept the situation in a way that there were no casualties, that there are no dead people in nine months,” he pointed out.
“And we hope that we’ll be an example of democratic and peaceful resolution of all these issues.”
‘There will be a new president and new leadership’
The Novi Sad train station accident also raised questions of systemic corruption, with demonstrators claiming that the awning collapse was the direct result of botched reconstruction.
In Vučić’s view, corruption has become a go-to argument and an easy way to air out grievances, even if they’re unrelated.
“No doubt, there is corruption everywhere, all over the world, in every single country. And that’s the easiest topic that someone can pick and say, ‘Okay, there is corruption,'” Vučić said.
“But putting that aside, of course, there is a lot of corruption, and we need to fight it much stronger. And I am very much dedicated, very much devoted to lead that fight, to lead the struggle,” he explained.
One of the protesters’ requests included demands for snap elections — which Vučić said he offered at least three times in the past six months, along with a referendum in January on his presidency, when he stated he would resign if he did not have the backing of the people. Yet, according to him, all his offers were ultimately refused.
“We wanted to fulfil all their requirements, all their requests, all their demands,” the Serbian president said. “They were saying, no, that’s treason, that is a betrayal.”
“We have a lot to do, many things to do. And you know, you have to work from time to time. It cannot always be elections and elections. And now they say the only thing we need is elections,” he pointed out.
‘Serbia will remain very firmly on EU path’
Meanwhile, Vučić reiterated that Serbia’s path to full European Union membership remains his top priority as that is where his country belongs.
“Until I leave the place, Serbia will remain very firmly on EU path, committed and dedicated to that path, conducting and implementing necessary reforms,” he said.
“I know thousands of things which we are going to gain joining the EU. And it’s not only economy … long-term stability, safety and security as well,” Vučić added.
“It can guarantee to its people peace for many decades, which is of an utmost importance. And also observance and respect of basic democratic and human rights.”
Asked about his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vučić said they remain cordial, and that in his view, the Russian leader is open to ending his ongoing all-out war in Ukraine in a peace agreement.
Furthermore, Vučić said that he would welcome both Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy for peace talks in the Serbian capital, if the two so desire.
“I know that there are thousands of people and at least tens of countries that are offering their space for that meeting,” Vučić explained.
“I cannot compete with those bigger and smarter and whatever, but they are always very welcome … and Serbia can provide good hospitality and a very secure place for both of them,” he concluded./Euronews
