Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited the new Palliative Care Center in Batajnica, located in the repurposed COVID hospital that now functions under the University Clinical Center of Serbia. During the visit, he spoke about the importance of expanding healthcare services and how this center will provide much-needed care, particularly for cancer patients. He highlighted that this facility offers a level of care and comfort that hasn’t been seen in the country before.
Vucic addressed those who claimed the center was simply a way to defend a bad investment, stating that the former COVID hospital had saved thousands of lives during the pandemic and deserved recognition, not mockery. He said even if the hospital had saved just a few lives, it would still have been worth every dinar invested.
He also mentioned that over 100 medical professionals have recently returned to Serbia from abroad, including from countries like the US, Switzerland, and Austria. He stressed the importance of continuing this trend to improve both the country’s economy and population growth, pointing out that Serbia lacks skilled workers in fields like construction and technical trades.
Vucic went on to list recent healthcare investments, citing new facilities in cities like Nis and Belgrade. He explained that projects are planned for Kragujevac, Uzice, Novi Pazar, and a brand new maternity clinic in Visegradska. He praised the speed of construction at the Tirsova children’s hospital, expressing hope that with modern infrastructure and better treatment methods, healthcare outcomes will improve across the board.
He also used the occasion to criticize opposition figures and media outlets, accusing them of spreading disinformation and relying on artificial intelligence to write false narratives. He said they live in a closed echo chamber and are increasingly detached from reality. In his words, “In two months, I’ll be the one protecting them from the people’s fury.”
Vucic discussed the recent arrest of Ivan Matovic, who was found with an untraceable firearm. He suggested that such weapons are typically used for assassinations and questioned the real motive behind having such a weapon. He noted that although opposition groups called for a protest, only a few hundred people showed up, despite efforts to bring them in from across the country.
He also commented on the condition in which protesters left the Student Cultural Center, criticizing the chaos and disorder. Regarding the recent attack on Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, Vucic identified the assailant as a known criminal involved in drug trafficking, condemning the violence that took place in front of Djuric’s family.
On the incident at Defense Minister Milos Vucevic’s home, he drew a parallel to politically motivated intimidation tactics, comparing them to extremist behavior aimed at spreading fear. He said such actions won’t shake his government’s resolve.
Lastly, he responded to political remarks made by Branko Ruzic, suggesting that Ruzic’s support or disapproval had little effect on electoral outcomes. He hinted at upcoming elections and predicted results that may be more surprising than ever for opposition parties.
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