Fico to Speak at Vucic List Rally in Belgrade Arena

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will be the special guest at the rally of the “Aleksandar Vucic - United Serbia” list in Belgrade Arena in New Belgrade. The rally is set for today, Saturday, October 3, and the hall’s gates open at 3:30 pm. List leader Aleksandar Vucic revealed the guest on Friday, October 2, in a live address on TikTok and Facebook. There is no report from the rally itself yet, so this text relays what had been announced by this morning.

When does the rally start and who performs?

Sources disagree on how long the wait is before the main part. Blic reports that the rally starts at 6 pm, while Vucic announced Fico’s arrival in different words depending on who relays it. Nasportal.info records him as saying “a little before 6 pm,” and Kurir as “around 6 pm.” B92 says only that the gates open at 3:30 pm.

Vesna Zmijanac, Aca Lukas and Mira Skoric are announced for the music program. According to the organizers, the music is followed by the guest’s address and then a speech by Aleksandar Vucic, in which the list’s program and plan will be presented. Kurir also reports a children’s program, in the Arena and in front of it.

Other officials have urged people to attend as well. Deputy chairman of the Serbian Progressive Party Main Board Sinisa Mali told citizens: “Everyone to the Arena! Let us support Vucic, so that Serbia continues with economic growth.” Parliament Speaker and Acting President Ana Brnabic invited supporters through Instagram.

What did Vucic say about the guest?

Vucic introduced Fico as a friend of the country, and he spoke about his own position too, since he resigned as president of Serbia at the end of September.

“This is a great friend of Serbia. This is a man who has defended Serbia everywhere and in every place, who has shown friendship toward our country everywhere and in every place.”

He then added why the guest’s arrival matters to him, with a remark about himself:

“I am proud that he accepted to come to our rally, even though I am not president, I am not prime minister, I am nothing, I am an ordinary citizen.”

Vucic also said Fico is “always with us” and “always respects Kosovo and Metohija as part of Serbia and the territorial integrity of our country.” Fico heads the government in Bratislava, and Slovakia does not recognize Kosovo. In the same address Vucic mentioned Fico’s attitude toward Moscow:

“He always supports our European path, and he is also a man with a balanced approach toward the Russian Federation.”

On the language of the address he said: “I believe Robert Fico will speak in Serbian, believe it or not. We will all be able to understand him well without translation.”

Who is Fico and what is his connection to Serbia?

Fico was Slovakia’s prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018, and he has held the post again since October 2023. His support for Serbian politics is nothing new. Ahead of the second round of the 2012 presidential election, he backed then-president Boris Tadic in a written statement. Tadic lost that election to SNS founder Tomislav Nikolic.

What did Vucic say to the opposition?

In the same address Vucic criticized the opposition for refusing a television debate with him. Danas relays his words:

“They go to TV debates with Ana Brnabic and Sinisa Mali. But when I invite their first on the list, then they won’t.”

The opposition’s reply to this claim has not reached the newsroom. In its election roundup for the same day, BBC News mentions the Student List’s appearance in Novi Pazar alongside the Belgrade rally.

Elections are scheduled for October 25.