Vučić at Serbian Government session: Investigate if sound cannons were used, if not, prosecute those who lie

(Patria) - The Serbian Parliament should confirm the resignation of Miloš Vučević on Tuesday or Wednesday, and the 30-day deadline for forming a new government will begin. If the government is not formed, new elections will be held, most likely on June 8, President Aleksandar Vučić said at a government session. Regarding the situation in the country, he emphasized the importance of fully normalizing things and, as he said, children must learn and the education system must function.

"This means that April 18 is the deadline for forming the Serbian government. If you want that, and if not, then elections will be held, and the deadline for that is 45 to 60 days, which means that if the government is not formed, elections would be held at the beginning of June, June 1 or June 8. June 8 is more logical, because for June 1 they would say it's tight," Vučić said.

Commenting on yesterday's protests, he said it was "important and good" that there were no major disturbances.

"We managed to fully preserve peace and stability and did not use police forces to calm tensions or anything similar," Vučić stated.

He also said that there are about 3,500 teachers waiting for jobs in the National Employment Service, so the whole situation needs to be considered.

"This doesn't mean anything overnight, but talk to the teaching staff whether they want to work or not. If they want to, they will, if they don't, they won't. Children must learn and the system must function," said Vučić, noting that this is his advice, and the government will make a decision.

He asked the Minister of Justice, Maja Popović, for the ministry and the prosecutor's office to react to the information about the use of sound cannons at protests in Belgrade.

"I ask you, Ms. Popović, for both the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor's Office to react, either to prosecute those who used them, and we know they didn't, but let it be checked, let proceedings be initiated, but then prosecute all those who came out in public with such a blatant lie," said Vučić.

He called on everyone to do their job and nothing more, and to tell the people the truth.

He also spoke about Dodik's visit

Among other things, Vučić spoke at the session about Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasized that "we must help in overcoming the crisis in Republika Srpska", an entity in BiH, while preserving peace and "Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina" and respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Vučić invited the government to organize a visit to Belgrade for Milorad Dodik, the president of RS, and Nenad Stevandić, the head of the assembly of that BiH entity.

He pointed out that he has a meeting with the NATO Secretary General on March 19, and that he would like to meet with Dodik before that, as well as that he has talks in Brussels on March 25.

"That is what I cannot change, but all the rest I can change and adjust, in accordance with your needs, so that in talks with the Europeans and with Rute, we can see how to help overcome this crisis, preserve peace and stability, and preserve Republika Srpska, of course within Bosnia and Herzegovina, but respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement," said Vučić.