MEP Helmut Brandstätter says he is made very sad by the images coming from Serbia in recent days, which are characterized by police brutality and clashes with protesters.
He also states that he is disappointed that there was not a sharp enough reaction from the EU to what Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is doing and that this is not fair to either the country or the people.
He pointed out that he sees Vučić not trying to unite people, but dividing them, which, according to him, is a characteristic of authoritarian regimes.
“Students are very important for Serbia; they play a very important role in building democracy. If you are not satisfied with the situation, it means the situation is not good. Students want to fight against corruption and they want the rule of law. I think President Vučić is intelligent enough to understand the situation, to do something good for his country, to talk to the students, to invite them to be part of society, and not to divide society. That’s what authoritarian leaders do, and I think that’s a big mistake Vučić is making right now,” Brandstätter assessed in a statement to N1.
He added that he will talk to the European Council in early September, and that he is in very good contact with the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kosa, who, he says, often speaks very openly about Serbia.
“I am not saying that the EU is excellent, there is corruption in all countries, but we are fighting against it and it must be very clear that you are fighting against corruption,” he pointed out.
He told Vučić that “he cannot throw members of parliament in prison.”
“That is something that is not done in a democracy. A change of government is part of democracy, and Mr. Vučić, learn that it is a part of democracy, because we want a democratic Serbia to be a part of the EU,” Brandstätter stated.
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Source: N1, Photo: Printscreen X