Vucic says he may resign, disputes protest turnout figures

Speaking to reporters in Beijing at the start of his visit to China, Vucic said his mandate was nearing its end and that he would not shorten it in the same way former President Boris Tadic once did.

“It is possible that I will soon submit my resignation,” Vucic said.

He also dismissed the Slavija protest, saying such gatherings could not seriously disturb him, especially when, as he put it, they were “without well-designed content,” “empty” and not particularly large.

Vucic accused the organisers of responsibility for the incidents that followed the end of the rally.

He said three security services had assessed the number of participants at between 30,500 and 34,300, adding that authorities accepted the highest estimate, although “precise data” allegedly showed fewer than 34,000 people were present.

Vucic also announced that his Serbian Progressive Party would hold gatherings from June 26 to 28, saying the messages sent to citizens would be more important than the number of attendees.