Vucic: I will leave power on my own, but best time for Serbia will be that which remains behind me

Photo: Tanjug/Vladimir Sporcic

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said last night that it will be his own decision when to step down and that he promised the people that he will leave with behind him a Serbia that had enjoyed its most prosperious time in its history.

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"Serbia realistically has the highest salaries in its history. Serbia realistically has the highest pensions in its history. Serbia has built its road and railway infrastructure like never before in its history. Serbia has built its scientific and technological infrastructure like never before in its history. Serbia has never had a stronger army in its history. Serbia has never spent half of the money it spends on agriculture in real terms," Vucic told RTS.

He added that in 2024, a record 5.067 billion euros of direct foreign investments arrived in Serbia and that for the first time, Europe and Asia are almost equal in terms of the level of investments.

As for Asia, said Vucic, the majority of investments came from China, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Japan and South Korea.

Vucic said he is particularly proud of and what he considers the legacy of his policy is the fact that Air Serbia will have over 50 million euros profit this year.

"We had the failed JAT and not a single route in the world. Now, we already have more than eight million passengers at the airport," he said.

Addressing the criticism that children in Serbia are getting treatment thanks to texts (sent to raise humanitarian funds), Vucic said that the situation is the same in all countries around the world and added that in our country healthcare is almost free or provided at the lowest cost.

"We are spending 5.5 billion for healthcare alone. You cannot take the results from me. What are you going to take away from me? You demonstrated against Belgrade Waterfront," said Vucic, referring to his opponents, and adding that a concession had to be approved for the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade and that this happened a week before the Covid outbreak.

He said that the airport will belong to Serbia in 30 years' time, and added that today it is beautified, done in a different way, to the pride of each of us.

Vucic also stated that he believes that school classes should last 30 minutes because no one's attention is kept for 45 minutes and pointed out that he will never be in favor of cutting work hours.

According to the president, people all over the world are spoiled and lazy and those countries that manage to maintain work ethics, dual education, are moving forward.

"Germany will rise. Like Switzerland, like Austria. It's a big crisis, but that's why they're now building the biggest chip factory in eastern Germany. That's why they're working on mines again. They have a hundred new mines, which they are exploring," he said.

Recalling that many hospitals have been built during his time in power, Vucic said that Narodni Front and Visegradska are now under construction, as is the new clinic in Tirsova Street in Belgrade, while a maternity hospital in the town of Nis will also be built.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)