The political movement Serbia Center (SRCE) issued a stark warning today, stating that further delays in deciding the fate of Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) could drive the country into a dire situation, insisting that nationalization is the only viable solution to prevent economic collapse.
“Nationalizing NIS at this moment means preventing a collapse of Serbia’s economy and industry. There is no other solution if we want to protect the basic interests of our citizens and businesses,” SRCE stated in a press release.
The party strongly criticized the current government, led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), for failing to act in Serbia’s interest. They labeled today’s emergency government session as a “dramatically staged performance” meant to mislead the public rather than address the pressing issue.
This comes amid mounting concerns over the sanctions affecting NIS due to its majority Russian ownership, which threatens Serbia’s oil supply and economic stability.
Previous Statements Intensify Tensions
Earlier today, economic expert Mijat Radosavljević emphasized that a “solution is needed that protects the state, not the ruling party.” Meanwhile, President Aleksandar Vučić stated that he seeks to “avoid nationalization at all costs”, adding that “a solution must be found within seven days.”
However, SRCE claims that the government is considering bringing in a “trusted” partner from the Arab world to take over part of NIS — a move they say is designed not to protect Serbia, but to preserve Vučić’s power structure, which they describe as built on corruption, fear, and coercion.
“What’s most worrying,” SRCE added, “is that President Vučić knows his corrupt pyramid of power will collapse the moment the first gas station in Serbia runs out of fuel — yet he still insists on secret deals instead of responsible action.”
