"SNS rally postponed to preserve peace"

"SNS rally postponed to preserve peace"

He told the Vecernje Novosti daily in an interview, commenting on media speculation that the Progressives decided not to organize any gathering to mark one year in office of Vucic's cabinet, that the rally "will be held but not on April 25."

"We will hold the rally on another day, and will not deny representatives of the former regime on the republic level the right to irresponsibility that they have been demonstrating on a daily basis. Personally, as the leader of the largest party in Serbia, I do not intend to divide the state and the people. I've no intention of doing that," said Vucic.

He added that the government "will also never prohibit the right to free assembly."

"In the event of two rallies held at the same time, the question is whether peace could be ensured. And to me, as the leader of the largest party and the prime minister, peace and stability are the most important. Besides, the question is where the party of (Bojan) Pajtic found the money to organize rallies, considering that everyone knows their party's bank account has been blocked for months," said Vucic.

He added that the SNS decision to move the date of the rally "shows strength, not weakness."

"As normal people, we do not want in any way to jeopardize the stability of the country. Also, we do not want to believe that the leader of the Vojvodina regime Bojan Pajtic has causing instability as his goal," concluded Vucic.

Democrats to go ahead

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party announced that it will go ahead with their rally in Belgrade planned for April 25. The announcement was made by DS leader, who also serves as head of the Vojvodina provincial government.

Pajtic told the Belgrade-based Blic that "only one who does not live in this country does not see how bad the government is."

"From 2000 until 2012, wages and pensions only increased, but Vucic's regime cuts them. Citizens' standard is about 30 percent lower than it was three years ago," said Pajtic.

He added that public debt increased by 1.6 billion during the first two months of this year alone, "while during the 12 years of DOS parties (in power) it increased by 1.3 billion."

According to him, "there are almost no foreign investors in Serbia, journalists have been driven out of the media one way or another, while the country's resources are sold out through secret contracts."

"We absolutely raise our voice against this government and we will absolutely hold the rally," concluded Pajtic.