Vučić: "Holding presidential elections at this time is not possible"

"In just 17 days, Serbia has lost what it was known for, what used to be its cornerstone, and fear has entered people's homes," Vučić said at the beginning of his address.

He pointed out that he had participated in pension payments 172 times, whether as prime minister, deputy prime minister or president, and that pensions had never been delayed or affected by cash shortages during that period.

"Why are we now facing cash shortages when the budget is full? Because someone deliberately created instability and then tried to blame others," Vučić said.

He argued that the "Student List" had effectively been in power since October 25 and that he held its representatives responsible for the current situation.

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"The new government does not have to be formed before March"

Vučić said that a new government does not necessarily have to be formed before March, citing the one-month deadline for convening Parliament and the subsequent three-month period for forming a government.

"They can go another 110 days without forming a government, while holding all the power in their hands. That suits them best. Why would they need a government when they have nothing to show the people? Why would they need a government when they have nothing to offer the people?" Vučić said.

He announced that Stojan Radenović, a prominent Serbian scientist, would be the "United Serbia" list's candidate for Speaker of Parliament.

"But I know they won't accept him," he added.

Vučić also criticised what he described as public satisfaction over the arrests of certain individuals.

"People enjoy seeing others suffer, unfortunately, and celebrate when someone is arrested. They may enjoy that for a month, two or three, but by the fourth or fifth month, people start asking: Where is my country today? What have they done for my country? What happened to Expo? Why did we miss the opportunity to have three million visitors at Expo? Why?

"Is anyone dealing with these issues? Is anyone asking whether procurement needs to be carried out or whether we will meet our deadlines? Nobody dares to sign a single procurement contract because they know they could end up behind bars.

"You're not going to finish that either. So what are you going to do during your term? Ride people? Beat them? Yes, you can do all that, but only up to a point," Vučić said.

He warned that such behaviour ultimately ends badly for those responsible, adding that difficult times reveal people's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their character.

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"I have already been informed that I will be called as a witness"

Asked by journalists about the possibility of his arrest, Vučić said it was always easy to speculate about such matters.

"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I have never used a Sky phone and have never been involved in anything like that," he said, adding that he had already been informed he would be summoned as a witness.

"Whatever happens, I'm here and ready to answer any question. It is shameful for the country to be dealing with this. They cannot do anything to me because I know I'm telling the truth," Vučić said.

He also claimed that the European Union had shown little public enthusiasm for the election winners because, in his view, the new authorities had been given a deadline to deliver on certain commitments.

"They will have EU support until May or June, when they will have to deliver what they promised. I know what that is, but we will wait and see.

"Did you see any enthusiasm in Moscow, Washington or Beijing? No, except in those countries that actively participated in the colour revolution, namely Montenegro and Croatia, as well as Pristina," Vučić said.

"Ask yourselves why that is," he added.

Who will be the SNS presidential candidate?

Aleksandar Vučić, who headed the "United Serbia" electoral list, said he believed holding presidential elections under the current circumstances was not possible.

However, he stressed that the Serbian Progressive Party would decide on its participation in the election at meetings of its Main Board and party assembly, scheduled for early and mid-December.

Vučić was responding to a question about whether the SNS would field a candidate in the upcoming presidential election and whether the party had already discussed potential nominees.

"Personally, I believe that elections are not only impossible at this moment, but also abnormal, when people are literally struggling to breathe. Not criminals who walk freely and run the country, but ordinary people and those who think differently from them.

"But my personal opinion means nothing. We will hold meetings of the Main Board and the party assembly in early and mid-December, and then, depending on the election date, we will make decisions on the matter.

"If you ask me personally, I would ignore the whole thing entirely," Vučić said.

He added that he had no interest in promoting a candidate simply for the sake of doing so.

"Above all, I refuse to create the illusion that things in Serbia are normal, because absolutely nothing about what is happening today is normal.

"But that is only my personal position. As you know, I am not even the party president. Perhaps I will be one of the candidates, perhaps I will become one, perhaps not. I will be able to discuss that when the time comes," Vučić said.

He also announced that 500 members of the SNS Main Board would be replaced in the upcoming internal party elections.