Collector
'Citizens decide, not foreigners' - Vucic rejects 'Hungarian scenario' for Serbian elections | Collector Every time it was 'Vucic is next'," he added, arguing that the belief foreigners decide Serbia’s leadership exists 'only in some people’s heads'. His remarks come as the so-called 'Hungarian scenario' - referring to the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban by Peter Magyar - dominates political debate in Serbia, fuelling both opposition hopes and government counter-narratives. Vucic also criticised Serbia's opposition, contrasting them with what he described as 'responsible' political rivals abroad. He pointed to the Italian Secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who defended Giorgia Meloni following criticism from US President Donald Trump, after she rejected the idea of a society in which religious leaders would follow the orders of political leaders, in response to Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV. "She jumped up in parliament and said, 'You cannot attack our Prime Minister! Italy is a sovereign country'. That is how responsible opposition leaders behave, which ours have never been and never will be," Vucic stressed. He also argued that Serbian voters recognise who is addressing real issues, accusing his opponents of focusing on political positioning rather than governance. "The citizens of Serbia decide who will be in power in Serbia, and that is why the citizens of Serbia gave their support to me," the president claimed. The debate unfolds amid shifting political dynamics across Europe, where recent election outcomes have intensified scrutiny on long-standing leaders. While Vucic and Orban have long shared a model of 'illiberal democracy', the rise of Magyar and his Tisza party has reshaped the regional conversation, seen in Serbia as both a template for opposition change and a warning for incumbents.""> Every time it was 'Vucic is next'," he added, arguing that the belief foreigners decide Serbia’s leadership exists 'only in some people’s heads'. His remarks come as the so-called 'Hungarian scenario' - referring to the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban by Peter Magyar - dominates political debate in Serbia, fuelling both opposition hopes and government counter-narratives. Vucic also criticised Serbia's opposition, contrasting them with what he described as 'responsible' political rivals abroad. He pointed to the Italian Secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who defended Giorgia Meloni following criticism from US President Donald Trump, after she rejected the idea of a society in which religious leaders would follow the orders of political leaders, in response to Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV. "She jumped up in parliament and said, 'You cannot attack our Prime Minister! Italy is a sovereign country'. That is how responsible opposition leaders behave, which ours have never been and never will be," Vucic stressed. He also argued that Serbian voters recognise who is addressing real issues, accusing his opponents of focusing on political positioning rather than governance. "The citizens of Serbia decide who will be in power in Serbia, and that is why the citizens of Serbia gave their support to me," the president claimed. The debate unfolds amid shifting political dynamics across Europe, where recent election outcomes have intensified scrutiny on long-standing leaders. While Vucic and Orban have long shared a model of 'illiberal democracy', the rise of Magyar and his Tisza party has reshaped the regional conversation, seen in Serbia as both a template for opposition change and a warning for incumbents.""> Every time it was 'Vucic is next'," he added, arguing that the belief foreigners decide Serbia’s leadership exists 'only in some people’s heads'. His remarks come as the so-called 'Hungarian scenario' - referring to the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban by Peter Magyar - dominates political debate in Serbia, fuelling both opposition hopes and government counter-narratives. Vucic also criticised Serbia's opposition, contrasting them with what he described as 'responsible' political rivals abroad. He pointed to the Italian Secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who defended Giorgia Meloni following criticism from US President Donald Trump, after she rejected the idea of a society in which religious leaders would follow the orders of political leaders, in response to Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV. "She jumped up in parliament and said, 'You cannot attack our Prime Minister! Italy is a sovereign country'. That is how responsible opposition leaders behave, which ours have never been and never will be," Vucic stressed. He also argued that Serbian voters recognise who is addressing real issues, accusing his opponents of focusing on political positioning rather than governance. "The citizens of Serbia decide who will be in power in Serbia, and that is why the citizens of Serbia gave their support to me," the president claimed. The debate unfolds amid shifting political dynamics across Europe, where recent election outcomes have intensified scrutiny on long-standing leaders. While Vucic and Orban have long shared a model of 'illiberal democracy', the rise of Magyar and his Tisza party has reshaped the regional conversation, seen in Serbia as both a template for opposition change and a warning for incumbents."">
'Citizens decide, not foreigners' - Vucic rejects 'Hungarian scenario' for Serbian elections
Ruptly

'Citizens decide, not foreigners' - Vucic rejects 'Hungarian scenario' for Serbian elections

"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday dismissed speculation that Serbia might follow Hungary's recent political shift, emphasising that power is determined by voters and not by external actors. Speaking in Belgrade after a meeting with defence and military officials, the president rejected comparisons with regional political changes, saying predictions of his downfall have circulated for years. "Don't make me remind you how long I've been listening to those stories," he said, recalling similar claims following the fall of another regional leader. "Do you know how many Romanian prime ministers I've seen change in the meantime?" he questioned. "After Sebastian Kurz, after Milo Dukanovic, after Zoran Zaev <…> Every time it was 'Vucic is next'," he added, arguing that the belief foreigners decide Serbia’s leadership exists 'only in some people’s heads'. His remarks come as the so-called 'Hungarian scenario' - referring to the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban by Peter Magyar - dominates political debate in Serbia, fuelling both opposition hopes and government counter-narratives. Vucic also criticised Serbia's opposition, contrasting them with what he described as 'responsible' political rivals abroad. He pointed to the Italian Secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who defended Giorgia Meloni following criticism from US President Donald Trump, after she rejected the idea of a society in which religious leaders would follow the orders of political leaders, in response to Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV. "She jumped up in parliament and said, 'You cannot attack our Prime Minister! Italy is a sovereign country'. That is how responsible opposition leaders behave, which ours have never been and never will be," Vucic stressed. He also argued that Serbian voters recognise who is addressing real issues, accusing his opponents of focusing on political positioning rather than governance. "The citizens of Serbia decide who will be in power in Serbia, and that is why the citizens of Serbia gave their support to me," the president claimed. The debate unfolds amid shifting political dynamics across Europe, where recent election outcomes have intensified scrutiny on long-standing leaders. While Vucic and Orban have long shared a model of 'illiberal democracy', the rise of Magyar and his Tisza party has reshaped the regional conversation, seen in Serbia as both a template for opposition change and a warning for incumbents."

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