Ponoš: Vučić’s war rhetoric is driven solely by the election year

Zdravko Ponoš, leader of the opposition Serbian Center party (SRCE), said today that President Aleksandar Vučić’s frequent statements about a possible global war are aimed at pre-election purposes, arguing that Vučić is resorting to such rhetoric because he “doesn’t have many options in an election year.”

Speaking to N1, Ponoš said Vučić can no longer talk about the country’s economic successes, “results, or promises,” and is instead relying “only on fear.”

According to Ponoš, statements about a potential conflict have a “chance to spread among his audience,” adding that “regime media, such as Informer, are already operating in this mode of spreading fear, panic, and devotion to the ‘heavenly kingdom.’”

He added sarcastically that Vučić’s statement that Serbia would not go to war if the United States were to invade Greenland “not only relaxed the domestic public,” but also “relaxed (U.S. President Donald) Trump as well.”

“He no longer has that kind of concern. So America can breathe freely,” Ponoš said.

On Monday, Vučić stated in Trebinje that if the United States were to invade Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, Serbia “would stand on the side of respect for international public law, that is, territorial integrity, but would not get involved in conflicts and wars, nor make harsh statements.”