Vucic: Consultations to be continued on Monday, elections can be held on May 31 at earliest

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Friday his consultations with officials of political parties would be continued on Monday and that, in terms of formal law, early parliamentary elections could be held on May 31 at the earliest, or, potentially, in late March next year, in which case they would not be early elections.

Speaking to reporters after consultations with representatives of the Movement of Socialists, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians and the Justice and Reconciliation Party, Vucic said he had promised early parliamentary elections to the people and that this meant the polls would be held by the end of the year.

As much as possible, I will be looking to fulfil that promise, as well as many others, unless the whole world collapses - the way things are going, you cannot rule out anything anymore," Vucic said.

He said he had initiated the consultations to discuss the blockaders' demands for early elections.

Vucic added that, among other topics, Friday's meetings had addressed EU integration and that the three parties had very nuanced and differing positions on the matter, and that, as president, he needed to take them all into account to see what would best express Serbia's interests.

Vucic: I am looking for way to avoid candidacy for PM but I must be certain we will win

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he was looking for a way to avoid being a candidate for PM ahead of early parliamentary elections, but noted that he needed to be certain the country would stay in good hands, and that, if necessary, he would help responsible and serious people to win again.

"I am looking for a way to avoid a candidacy for PM, but I must be certain and confident that we will win because I do not want to leave the country in the worst hands. And if you are asking me, I am not even that young anymore," Vucic told reporters after consultations with representatives of the Movement of Socialists, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians and the Justice and Reconciliation Party at the Presidency of Serbia. 

Vucic: I have invited parties to consultations because Serbia needs serious decisions

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he had invited political parties to consultations because he believed that humanity was on the brink of an abyss and because Serbia needed serious decisions.

"We need to try to position ourselves responsibly in a situation like this and do what is best for our country and our people. I know in advance, and I do not need anyone to tell me, that the majority of parties from the former regime will refuse because 'Vucic is buying time that way' or doing I do not know what - I guess they always start from themselves before coming to such conclusions," Vucic told reporters at the Presidency of Serbia after meetings with representatives of the Movement of Socialists, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians and the Justice and Reconciliation Party.

He said he was giving political parties another chance to come and express their views, as well as to perhaps hear something about the global situation and everything Serbia was facing.

"Why am I so worried, and why have I requested this? I requested this because it is not possible to simply predict what will happen, and what we can predict when it comes to the situation on the planet is something that is very bad. Today, we are already having tremendous fertiliser price hikes, and there will be a shortage soon," Vucic said.