Groselj: SNS members may be trying to influence MEPs, but unproductively
“I expect that the European Parliament, as a democratic institution, will have the political will and strength to send at tomorrow’s session a strong message to Serbia that democratic elections are the foundation of democracy, that this is something that cannot be debated and that it is a prerequisite for every candidate country to join to the European Union,” said Klemen Groselj, the head of the European Parliament (EP) election observation mission in the Serbian elections.
In the event that the Wednesday EP session seems unimportant to some, it is not, he stressed.
“This is how things work. The European Commission waits to see the reaction of the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament is the one that opens the discussion and pushes the topic of elections in Serbia forward, so that it does not disappear from the agenda of European politics. This approach has proved be very important….If the EP adopts a resolution, it usually has some consequences,” Groselj explained for N1.
He also emphasized that the thing that characterizes MEPs the most is independence in their work.
“The independence of MEPs is also high in relation to the groups they represent in the EP. When we discussed whether to open this discussion about the Serbian elections we knew that the majority would support the proposal. You must know that all of us have participated in some elections and we always want them to be fair and free. And that is one of the reasons why there will be a debate and resolution in the EP,” said Groselj.
Commenting allegations that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is trying to influence some members of the European Parliament, Groselj said such attempts are “unproductive.”
“Such attempts are mostly unproductive, because the MEPs know that their independence is the most valuable thing they have. I would say that all attacks on me and my colleagues have some MEPs only intrigued more, and they hardened their positions on this matter after the attacks,” he said.
Groselj explained that everything that was presented at the international observers’ press conference following the December 17 elections will be included in the final report, and stressed that the gravity of the violations is what is important, not their number.
The European Parliament will on Wednesday debate the Serbian elections because of the EP election observation mission’s report that pointed out numerous irregularities, such as pressure on voters, mass re-registration of voters, discrediting of and attacks on political opponents, journalists and members of civil society organizations, abuse of state functions and state resources by the authorities.
In addition, the MEPs will also vote on a resolution on Serbian elections at the EP plenary session on February 5-8.