Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is promising citizens millions of euros to stay in power and plans to step down as president, only to return as prime minister and continue to govern according to the model of his idol, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger wrote today.

The newspaper writes that the Serbian leader has promised one-time payments to pensioners, social assistance recipients and "so-called war veterans, who during the wars in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia caused a lot of damage to other peoples."

In total, Vučić, "the most powerful politician in that Balkan country," has promised around 600 million euros, and while the opposition talks about vote buying, he says he acts only for the well-being of citizens, writes Tages-Anzeiger.

The Swiss newspaper also reports Vučić's vague announcement that he will soon step down as head of state, but believes that power always goes where he is. According to the article, his goal is to step down as president early and then take over as prime minister.

"Since he almost completely dominates the Serbian political scene, power always shifts to where Vučić is," the Swiss newspaper writes.

This, according to her, was also proven in the period 2014–2017, when the former extreme nationalist, known for his political ability to adapt, was prime minister.

If Vučić's party wins and allows him to become prime minister, a loyal person will be installed in the post of president who will perform only ceremonial duties.

"This maneuver is reminiscent of Vladimir Putin's move when in 2008 he installed Dmitry Medvedev as a strong-willed president, while he himself held all the strings of power, and then returned to the Kremlin in 2012," the Tages-Anzeiger assesses. /Telegraph

WorldSerbiaBotëEnglishBallkan