"Those who refuse dialogue should not lead the country"; "There'll be no elections in case of severe crisis"

At the beginning of his address, Vučić said that since November 1, 2024, following the tragedy in Novi Sad, he has publicly made 154 calls to his political opponents in an effort to calm the political situation.

However, as he said, most of them did not respond to that dialogue. “They don’t understand one thing: by doing this, they are not undermining me, but themselves and democracy. If you are not ready for dialogue, what are you actually ready for? Why didn’t you say to my face what you really think, or do you know that what you said isn’t true?” Vučić asked.

He reminded that he had invited opposition and blocking politicians to discuss numerous issues, but they never responded, because the same answer always came from the same center.

“I will continue to call for dialogue because I am satisfied with it, and I warn the people that those who are not capable of talking to the president are also not ready to govern the country. Whoever fears dialogue does not deserve the trust of the people,” Vučić said.

He added that in doing so, they are not insulting him personally, nor the party he is a member of, but rather insulting the people and the institutions of this country.

“So, I have called them 154 times over the past 15 months. At first, they said I was not competent. When it became clear that they were only interested in elections, which can only be called by the president, they refused to talk. But they were willing to talk with Picula and any foreigner who has nothing to do with our country,” Vučić said.

He called on the citizens of Serbia to consider who is for dialogue and conversation, and who is for the destruction of the state.

"If I see that a major crisis is coming, there will be no elections, as national interests are above all", he concluded.

He also announced that talks with parties willing to engage in dialogue will continue after Easter, and that he will seek meetings with members of the government due to the severe crisis ahead.

Today, representatives of the SPS, the Democratic Alliance of Croats, and the Social Democratic Party visited the Presidency.

On Monday, Vučić met with representatives of the “Mi-glas iz naroda” party and the Party of United Pensioners, Farmers, and Proletarians of Serbia – Solidarity and Justice, while on Friday he held talks with representatives of the Socialist Movement, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, and the Party of Justice and Reconciliation.