Brnabić: The opposition wants to internationalize the crisis

When asked whether the legitimacy of the elections will be threatened if the two or three strongest opposition groups boycott the elections, Brnabić replied that only the legitimacy of the opposition will be undermined.

"Their legitimacy is now becoming questionable. Their frivolity is becoming completely unquestionable. We have these elections because they asked for them and now they will boycott them," said Brnabić, being hosted on TV Pink.

She pointed out that before the announcement of the Belgrade elections, she herself invited the opposition for a discussion for the third time and reminded that on March 4 they did not respond to the invitation of President Aleksandar Vučić for consultations, which was their legal obligation.

"On Monday, they only had a correct, but extremely difficult conversation. The opposition did not want to discuss the ODIHR recommendations, but only its three demands: to form an independent commission to control the ballot paper, to be equally represented on the public service and to have local and the Belgrade elections on the same day. We immediately replied that the first request was accepted, we cannot do the second, because we do not control the work of public services, but that we will talk to them about it, while we cannot do the third because it is illegal," explained Brnabić.

She said that she met with the opposition on Wednesday when she offered them an alternative proposal - that they should discuss the date of all other local elections, maybe in the fall and create temporary bodies, but that the opposition refused.

"I asked them twice to continue working together on ODIHR recommendations, on the formation of a commission for ballot papers, but they refused all of that," said Brnabić.

She added that even while the DS and DOS were in power, there were a large number of ODIHR recommendations, primarily regarding the unified ballot paper, but that the government was not interested then.

Brnabić thanked all Belgraders who supported the SNS list, reminding that this morning they submitted a list with 20,000 citizens' signatures, which was accepted under the name "Aleksandar Vučić - Belgrade tomorrow".

"The opposition wants to internationalize the crisis"

Brnabić stated that the opposition's announcements that they will prevent the holding of the Belgrade elections are in fact an attempt to internationalize the crisis.

"I told them quite frankly at the meeting on Wednesday that I think it's a completely wrong path. Where you started is a dead end and you need to think, because there is no other way than to go back and have a dialogue and let's decide what to do in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Serbia," Brnabić told TV Pink.

She told the opposition that if they don't like the laws, the National Assembly is the right place to discuss the laws and if they want to change the laws on the protection of personal data or some electoral law in the Assembly. She pointed out that it is not democratic to shorten the mandate of someone who does not want to resign.

"Because tomorrow that will happen to you, because tomorrow you may get some local self-government, and the majority in the parliament will say, for goodness sake, now we will shorten the mandate by one 300 days, so let's see," Brnabić said.

To the remark that before the December elections, some mayors resigned, Brnabić replied that some did and some did not.

"And those who didn't want to, don't want to make cuts even now. And nobody has the right, nobody has the right to cut them. If there is a political agreement, within a party or coalition, it's fine, you respect that party, so be ready to resign. But if there is no such agreement and those people do not want to resign, no one can take that mandate from them, because that would be the opening of Pandora's box," said Brnabić.

When asked if it would change anything if the opposition proposed a draft lex-specialis for postponing the Belgrade elections, Brnabić replied that it would allow the opposition to change the dates of the elections as it pleases.

"Since they first mentioned lex specialis, since then they have changed their opinion one or three times about what that lex specialis is and how it should be regulated. Should it shorten the mandate, extend the mandate, postpone the elections in Belgrade or be all together," said Brnabić.

She asked the opposition exactly what it wanted, whether it wanted Belgrade to be under temporary funding for two years.

"What exactly do you want for the citizens of Belgrade? That we don't know how kindergartens are financed? That we don't know how some other things in Belgrade are financed? City traffic, city greenery, anything else, heating plants? What do you really want?", Ana Brnabic wondered.

"It occurred to Djilas that he has an election, since this is ultimately up to him," said Brnabić. She added that the "Serbia against Violence" list tonight on "Impression of the Week" is threatening violence and that they said that "the Serbian Progressive Party is a gang, an organized criminal group and that they do not know how it will end and that they will physically prevent elections''.

"These are the biggest bullies and the biggest abusers. Surely there is someone there who is serious and responsible enough to say: it can't be like this. People gave us a hand for dialogue. Out of three requests, we accepted two in five minutes. And the two most important ones. Well let's sit down and talk. Don't just threaten, don't just harass citizens, don't keep changing your minds, let's show responsibility and seriousness. And that's what I'm playing for and what I'm hoping for," said Brnabić .