Vucic promised to admit defeat in the elections if the opposition wins

BELGRADE, September 27 - RIA Novosti. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic promised to congratulate his political opponents “that same evening” if they win the elections to the Skupshtina (parliament) on October 25.

On CNN on Sunday, Vucic was asked whether his expected resignation from the presidency in order to participate in parliamentary elections and fight for the post of prime minister indicates the rise of authoritarianism in Serbia.

“This was done by the President of the EU country (Bulgaria - ed.) Rumen Radev three months ago, but you did not mention it. (Finnish President - ed.) Alexander Stubb did it in the reverse order, he was prime minister and became president. This is allowed to all of them, but not to me,” replied the head of the Serbian state.

He called himself a democrat and said that he always listens to what people say, because without legitimacy he will be “nobody.”

“We will have a difficult, important election race, let’s see who wins, if the other side, I will congratulate them that same evening,” Vucic promised, adding that “this is how democracy works.”

Vucic, in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, expressed gratitude for cooperation over 14 years and the hope that future Serbian presidents will responsibly pursue foreign policy, maintaining “a certain balance between all factors in the international arena.”

Serbia's president previously announced that he would resign late Sunday but would lead a coalition campaign around the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SPP) in parliamentary elections on October 25.