Today, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited the final stages of construction at the high-speed rail station in Subotica, where he also addressed ongoing discussions with farmers, noting that the government now provides them with three times the support compared to previous years.
“We’re reaching 7.3% of the budget. Is that good? I don’t think so. We’re giving more to crop farming, but we should be allocating more to livestock farming. It bothers me that whenever anyone protests in this country, everyone immediately sides with them and says, ‘Give them more, give them more.’ But if we give more to one group, we have to take it from another. You’re all telling fairy tales because you don’t understand the budget and what the state can or cannot afford. So, tell me—from whom should we take it?” he asked.
Vucic added that the same situation applies to educators and acknowledged that the government has made mistakes. However, he emphasized that the recent 12% salary increase for educators is substantial.
“Now we find ourselves having to justify it, as though we’re cutting 12%, when we’re actually increasing salaries by 12% while inflation is at 4.2%. Look at the growth in the real standard of living. I understand the teachers, and even though I wasn’t involved in the discussions, I’ll take responsibility. I will always stand by Ana Brnabic, but it’s surreal how we demonstrate respect for people. If we start adding another 3 billion everywhere, we’re opening Pandora’s box,” Vucic stressed.
He called teachers and farmers “honest people” but urged them not to act as pressure groups.
“Every problem is best solved through dialogue! Do you know how many protests I’ve encountered over the past 12 years? Over 2,000 days of protests. Has that changed what is possible? No, it hasn’t,” Vucic emphasized. “My request to all of you is to learn how a budget is created and understand what fiscal limits are. Do you know what teachers’ salaries were in 2012? 41,000 dinars. And now they will be 100,000 dinars,” he added.
Vucic added that he will not tolerate pressure groups and that he will never make decisions under pressure from the streets.
“I hope everyone will be satisfied, though no one will acknowledge it. The hardest thing here is to praise someone; that barely gets two likes! But insult someone, and it’s all anyone talks about. If they find even a single pebble on the tracks, everyone would make a fuss,” the President added.
