Sinisa Mali

BELGRADE - Serbia's 2019-2022 cumulative GDP growth was 13.7 pct, one of the highest in Europe, Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Wednesday in a reaction to recent reports by some media that have compared Serbia's 2022 GDP growth to that of other countries in the region.

The majority of heads of parliamentary groups expressed their views on the new Government of Serbia, and the main criticisms of the opposition were related to the fact that it is a government of continuity, with the assessment that the previous one has not worked well, as well as that the government is formed by Aleksandar Vui, and is represented by its prime minister-designate, Ana Brnabi

"The decision was complicated, complex both within the largest party in the country and with coalition partners. All three candidates will be important members of the government," Vui said.

"I have just finished talking with the President of France, whom I thanked for the fair role that France and he personally have in relation to Serbia and its citizens. The conversation was essential and very specific on all burning issues in the Western Balkans, in addition, through the prism of all events in Eastern Europe.

Aleksandar Vucic declaring his last election win in June 2020 in Belgrade. EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

"Young people can count on at least another 100 euros by Vidovdan [religious holiday on June 28], so after the elections," Vucic told pro-government station Happy TV, saying that the cost to the state will be around 102 million euros.

During the visit, President Vui will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and attend the opening of the Winter Olympic Games.
Vui arrived in Beijing early this morning, and was greeted at the airport by Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li on behalf of the President of China.

Mali said that tomorrow pensioners, recipients of financial social assistance and persons in the Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions will receive assistance. The money will be paid to other adult citizens on December 8 and 9, the Ministry of Finance announced.

It is a measure that is being implemented within the third aid package to the economy and citizens in order to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic, and the money will first be paid to pensioners and recipients of financial social assistance, the Ministry of Finance announced.

After the Serbian investigative media outlet KRIK published confirmation of claims that Serbia's Finance Minister, Sinisa Mali, owned a portfolio of property in Bulgaria bought through secretive offshore companies, it has reported that the "Pandora Papers" also shed light on the hidden business activities of another Serbian minister - Novica Toncev, minister for developing poor municipalities.<

Serbian leaders, including President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, have defended Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, accusing Serbia's Crime and Corruption Reporting Network, KRIK, of lying about him.