Vucic: State of emergency ends in Serbia next week

The state of emergency was declared on March 15 by Vucic following an opinion from the Defense Ministry. The decision was co-signed by Parliament Speaker and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic which the opposition and some law experts claim was in violation of the constitution which says that a state of emergency has to be declared by parliament.  

Speaking live on the pro-government TV Pink, Vucic said that the conditions set by epidemiologists had been met to lift the state of emergency – seven days in which the number of new coronavirus cases is less then five percent of the total number of people tested and a drop in the number of people on ventilators.  

He said that parliament would vote to lift the state of emergency on St George’s day, May 6, adding it would take effect the next day which means that there will be no curfew on Thursday, May 7.  

Vucic said that the Defense Ministry is due to send himself and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic its recommendation to lift the state of emergency on Monday. “That is the procedure. Then comes a conclusion by the government co-signed by Ana Brnabic and myself and then we go to parliament to lift the state of emergency,” the president said.

According to Vucic, the measures imposed under the state of emergency were hard for everyone but were the only way to save people. He added that he does not want Serbia’s economic recovery to run late compared to other countries.