Guardian: Flawed elections confirm authoritarian agenda
The flawed December 17 elections in Serbia confirm Europe is being strung along by a government intent on an authoritarian, ethno-nationalist agenda, London daily The Guardian said in an editorial.
It recalled President Aleksandar Vucic’s claim that the elections were “the cleanest and most honest” to date while a team of international observers warned of “unjust conditions… media bias, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources… as well as intimidation, vote-buying and ballot-stuffing” and the bussing in of Bosnian Serbs to vote fraudulently.
“Flouting of democratic norms and the rule of law in Serbia has gradually accelerated since the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) took power over a decade ago – a textbook process of state capture, overseen by the president since 2017. An autocratic nationalist whose political instincts were forged in the Milošević era, Mr Vucic also uses his power and influence to foment discord in the western Balkans, where secessionist ethnic Serb campaigns are supported by Belgrade. But the ambition to draw Serbia within the EU’s orbit – and away from Russian influence – has muted western criticism to a compromising degree, particularly since the invasion of Ukraine,” the editorial said.
It said that “this emollient approach may soon run out of road” and recalled days of protests following the elections including the ProGlas gathering which called “for a largely silent Europe to back their cause”.
The editorial said intimations of renewed regional conflict promise to force a tougher line in Brussels and Washington and added that “hopes that the prospect of EU membership would persuade Serbia’s government to abide by democratic norms at home, and refrain from undermining neighbouring states, have proved unfounded …But the strategic goal of isolating Russia – also unfulfilled – means that the west continues to allow Vucic too much licence to pursue his authoritarian, ethno-nationalist agenda.
“As one of the chief investors in Serbia’s growing economy, the EU is viewed favourably by much of the population and has economic and diplomatic leverage to deploy if it chooses. Up to now it has opted not to do so, through an understandable fear – shared by Joe Biden’s administration – of leaving the Balkans even more open to the influence of Moscow and Beijing. But as he entrenches himself still further in the EU’s eastern backyard, treating Vucic as a kind of prodigal son who will eventually mend his ways is not working,” the Guardian editorial said.
The Guardian: Serbia, shtet i kapur, një problem për Ballkanin dhe BE-në!