Vladimir Kovacevic, the president of the "Nova – Da se struka pita" party, says that his party could be a partner to the parties gathered around "?rbija protiv nasilja" and "Dogovor za pobedu " in the upcoming elections, adding that there have been talks. Still, a final agreement has not yet been reached.

Kovacevic stated in the show "Pola sata Demostata" that, according to public opinion polls he had access to, the parties of Dragan ?ilas and Miroslav Aleksi? instill the most confidence in the upcoming elections. Therefore, it is natural for them to be the leaders of the opposition, and "Nova - Let the Profession Speak" has compatible programs with these two organizations and those they gather around them.

"Their economic programs are almost indistinguishable from ours," said Kovacevic.

Regarding the political alliances, Kovacevic states that the citizens are the ones who should judge what is most acceptable for them and that "Nova – Da se struka pita" will fit into one, two, or three columns.

When asked whether he had discussed cooperation with the organizations he mentioned, Kovacevic answered affirmatively but added that no agreement had been made yet.

"We do not hide the fact that we have talked as well. No final agreement has been made; everything is still an open book, and questions are still open," said Kovacevic.

He emphasizes that the parties should be compatible when it comes to the economy and that the public will be informed about the final agreement in the coming days and weeks.

"I must send a clear message to the voters - if there is an option for you to vote or see in the grouping Nova - Let the Profession Speak, be sure that the economic program we propose instills a sense of security and improves the living standards of all citizens," said Kovaevic.

He says that he leads the party so that it is complementary to all other parties that accept the significance and importance of their economic program.

Kovacevic emphasizes that the focus of the action of "Nova - Let the Profession Speak" is improving the standard of living of citizens, which is best reflected through the economy and reform of the health care system, areas where, according to its president, the party members are fully competent.

Speaking about the essential parts of the program "Nova – Da se struka pita," Kovacevic states that the party has a series of concrete measures to improve the living standard of the citizens of Serbia. For example, he points out that the salary in Serbia could increase by at least 30 percent "overnight."

"Citizens do not know that employers give 60 percent on the base, employees do not feel that they give 60 percent of their earnings to the state, we will have to ask the state what citizens get for those 60 percent... We advocate that the base that employers give to the state should be lower; it should be 50 percent. We can raise the base to 60,000 dinars with 50 percent contributions overnight, and the absolute values and revenues for the state will not change. In both cases, the state will receive the absolute revenue for the budget without being endangered," explains Kovacevic.

"With small creative measures, we can raise the minimum wage from 48,000 to 60 overnight, without anyone losing out and everyone gaining, everyone has given up a little, and the state is not endangered," said Kovacevic.

He points out that raising wages does not overtake inflation and must be clear.

"The state constantly talks about what the wages in euros were once and what they are today; the essence of the wage is what can be bought, not how big it is. Here, the state is a bit deceptive," says Kovacevic.

Asked about inflation and prices in Serbia, Kovacevic states that fees cannot be normalized overnight, especially not if society is deeply dependent on imports, so one hand is tied from the start.

"Lets not talk about the fact that we have not protected our market. We have cartels of markets that condition suppliers instead of having a law that says that at least 50 percent of Serbian products must be on the shelves of markets in Serbia. If you want to look at any market in Serbia, I dont know if you have 20 percent of Serbian products," he said.

He emphasizes that the laws are suffocating the Serbian industry and that we are slowly losing economic integrity instead of building it.

He explains that Serbia has conceptually given up on economic integrity, which it never had, and that it is not independent of the European Union and the whole world.

"We have not gained economic stability because we have not understood the significance of economic patriotism," notes Kovacevic.

He states that Serbian society is import-dependent and that more than 50% of the budget revenue is generated by collecting VAT and customs at the border, while goods from abroad cover half the daily needs.

"We must gradually substitute everything we import and build that kind of dedicated industry that allows us to gain independence," said Kovacevic.

When asked how much time is needed for that, Kovacevic responds that it takes between three and five years to build a factory, and that is the time required to achieve what we have failed for years and decades.

Kovacevic says that one of the biggest problems is that Serbia is heavily indebted, adding that since the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) came to power, the country has been borrowing an average of 2.2 billion euros annually, emphasizing that this is a significant burden on the shoulders of citizens and that the standard of living is not built on loans, but on ones production capacities.

He also mentions that living conditions are unfavorable for young people, adding that an average of 50,000 young people emigrate from Serbia annually, and according to estimates, up to 75,000 this year; hence, the focus in the country must be on the economy.

Speaking about agriculture, Kovacevic notes that the state has put livestock farmers in an unfavorable position and that more than 50% of the livestock fund has been destroyed by poor management.

"Arable farming has had its bright spots, while livestock farming is like a stepchild," he says.

He emphasizes that the fundamental problem is that the impact of GMO cereals on potential yields is not adequately assessed, citing several paradoxes – among others, that Serbia has given up GMO cereals that provide higher revenues, thinking its suitable for its children. Still, it doesn’t help the Serbian farmer to be in a more favorable position compared to livestock farmers in the EU, who use GMO cereals.

Another paradox is that we have given up GMO cereals. Still, we buy meat from animals in the EU that have been raised with those cereals, thereby further undermining the position of farmers, says Kovacevic.

He says that the countryside must be made more attractive for life so that young people return to live and earn a living there.

Kovacevic also believes doctors should not be health ministers and directors of health centers and clinical centers since they have not learned the laws on public procurement managerial skills in their education but should return to their profession.

As he states, doctors who have been educated for free in Serbia should "return" to the state through their service, mainly due to the chronic shortage of doctors.

"Lets call on doctors and ask them to return to their profession. Doctors should do what they were trained for, and managers should do the managing because ministering is the least doctor-like job," says Kovacevic.

When asked how to raise salaries in medicine and education, Kovacevic says that the state has failed in education first and foremost and that we are now suffering the logical consequences.

"We must bring education back to the level we had, and we should look up to foreign countries," he notes, adding that Serbia must bring back young people who have completed higher education.

He emphasizes that we must cherish our experience in Serbia to achieve the desired effects.

Asked whether citizens who belong to social groups that now occasionally receive additional money from the state, such as pensioners, mothers, and youth, should think about whether this will be abolished if new political forces come to power, Kovacevic answers negatively and says that the new echelon of politicians will work to improve the standard of living, as a basic style and approach that should be nurtured.

"Assistance to vulnerable social structures should continue, but funding sources should be sought from real life, not by getting indebted and then treating that money as our own, throwing it from helicopters, and whoever catches it. There has to be a system. Nobody needs to worry. Nor was it a characteristic of only the previous government to care for vulnerable social structures and pensioners. We will continue, but in a completely sustainable way," said Kovacevic.

He also assesses that the current government started with restrictive domestic measures at the beginning of its mandate to become ultra-populism today.

"Nobody would want to lose a part of their territory"

Asked how he sees the resolution of the crisis in Kosovo and whether he can identify any economic parameters that would affect the solution of this problem, Kovacevic states that, first and foremost, young people should not be burdened with legacies. Still, efforts should be made to facilitate peoples movement and raise the standard of living.

"I belong to the echelon of politicians who do not sweep things under the rug," said Kovacevic.

Comparing the Kosovo issue to family problems, Kovacevic states that, like in a family, the departing generation should solve problems, not leave them to the next one.

"The West and the EU are a part of our life; that direction is not in question"

Speaking about Serbias European path, Kovacevic states that, in his belief, Serbs inherit 70% of EU values, and our path is the European path.

"In the party I lead, that is unequivocal. The West and the EU are part of our life, and that is a direction that is not in question," said Kovacevic.

He also says that the relationship with the EU is a complex question that must be resolved in order not to remain an epic, never-realized love.

"When you go abroad, and I don’t know how to explain where Serbia is, we say - close to Italy. That is a good determinant. We are Europeans; I perceive myself as a European," said Kovacevic.

In response to the observation that Demostats public opinion polls show that citizens think that the slogan of Nova - "Let the professionals decide" is one of the best on the Serbian political market and the question of what it means in real politics, Kovacevic states that all citizens - voters of the SNS, the opposition, as well as abstainers, lack expertise in all spheres of life. "For us, for the industrialists and people who are engulfed by the idea of making a shift for the better in this state and economy, this question is essential; you cannot move things for the better if you do not have expert people," said Kovacevic.