Serbia votes in December and former Belgrade mayor Dragan Dilas is running. His objective is to prevent the current head of state. Vučić is not allowed “any
can form a coalition.”
“In Serbia you buy votes for 50 euros,” said opposition politician and former Belgrade mayor Dragan Đilas on Monday evening, referring to Serbian media reports. Together with the leader of the SPÖ delegation in the EU Parliament, Andreas Schieder, the leader of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) spoke at a discussion event organized by the SPÖ-affiliated Karl Renner Institute.
Head of state Aleksandar Vučić would mobilize for the December 17 early parliamentary elections with a pro-government media campaign, Đilas said. “I was accused in the media of embezzling 619 million and of beating my wife and children,” said the social democratic politician. Vučić controls much of the Serbian media landscape. According to a study by the Belgrade non-governmental organization Birodi, only one percent of the broadcast time of Serbian television channels in the last 2022 elections addressed the concerns of opposition candidates. “I was invited twice to a channel, both times I was confronted with a candidate from the ruling Progressive Party (SNS),” says Đilas.
The objective is a technocratic government
Vučić postponed the elections after mass protests broke out following two school shootings in Serbia in May. Several opposition parties, including Đilas SSP, then joined forces to form the “Serbia Against Violence” electoral alliance. “We have to prevent Vučić from forming a coalition,” said Đilas, who is hoping for a victory in Belgrade. The objective is a technocratic government.
“Many in the EU are treating Serbia with kid gloves, but Serbs expect pressure on those who are dismantling the rule of law,” said the leader of the SPÖ delegation in the EU Parliament, Andreas Schieder, who will monitor the elections December as an election. observer. In October, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Serbia “one of the most advanced countries on the path to the EU” and promised a growth plan worth six billion euros in exchange for reforms. Von der Leyen does not sufficiently support the opposition in Serbia and ignores the dismantling of the rule of law, criticizes Đilas.
“Only when the Kosovo issue is resolved will there be a path for Serbia and Kosovo to join the EU,” Schieder said. In September, Kosovo Serbs killed a police officer. This has led to tensions with Serbia, which does not recognize the state of Kosovo. The conflict over Kosovo is a means of winning nationalist votes, explains Đilas: “Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti are concerned about territories and not people.” Kosovo and Serbia must reconcile, says the opposition politician, but at the same time insists on self-rule for Kosovo Serbs. (APA)