Dacic invites Vucic to participate in elections together

Foto: Tanjug/Tanja Valič

Serbian Foreign Minister and Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic said on Sunday that he proposed to President Aleksandar Vucic that the Socialists and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) should form a coalition ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"I suggest that we go to the polls together so that there would be no problems and it would be clear that there's no reason for anyone to suspect me going with the opposition," Dacic said in response to public criticism that the SPS is not a loyal partner of the SNS and that it wants to team up with opposition parties.

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He told TV Prva in an interview that he has very fair relations with President Vucic, but added that if the SNS thinks that the Socialists are not loyal partners, then they don't have to be partners.

Regarding criticism that he's not publicly defending Vucic enough, he said that there is no need to defend him because he is a president who has more than 50 percent approval rating.

Photo: Tanjug/Rade Prelic

"He's not to be defended. His policy should be affirmed. I congratulated him on his statesman-like stance yesterday and I think that is more important to him than providing some signatures of support," said Dacic.

He added that Vucic is defended by more than 99 percent of his people, but also that the Socialists defend Vucic more than they do him, their leader - which he says is something he holds against his party.

He indicated that the SPS so far took part in elections independently and that it's normal he can't urge voters to vote for the SNS and Vucic, instead of for Dacic.

He asked why anyone should resent that, and pointed out that there is no dilemma on whose side he is.

Dacic reiterated that it's not in his interest to partner with anyone from the opposition in order to come to power - since he's already in power.

"I'm not such a gambler to team up with those who have no chance of coming to power, with those who are richer than I am a million times, who are not trusted by the people itself. Well that would make me stupid, don't underestimate me," Dacic said.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)