Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić receives only quiet criticism from Brussels, writes the respected German weekly "Czeit". Because the West still sees him as a man who will pave the way for Serbian recognition of Kosovo
The British "Guardian" published the other day editorial comment about the Serbian "nationalist autocrat" Aleksandar Vučić, who needs to be "restrained" because under his rule, "by violating democratic norms and the rule of law," Serbia is increasingly moving away from the European Union.
The respected German weekly "Zeit" now publishes an article about the demonstrations in Serbia after the elections, about election manipulations and Vučić's ability to offer Brussels a "solution for Kosovo, not a problem".
"The loss of Belgrade could have been the 'beginning of the end' for Aleksandar Vučić," writes the German weekly. "The president himself was afraid of that. He knew how to prevent it," writes journalist Ulrich Ladurner.
He describes the manipulations in the elections, as well as the demonstrations that followed. And it raises the question - why is the European Union silent on all this?
"Vučić has strongly undermined the democracy of his country in the last ten years. The press is practically assimilated, the opposition is underrated. The Serbian ruler does not participate in the European Union's sanctions against Russia. And now election manipulations. The question arises, how is it going for Vučić?"
The answer is - Kosovo
Ladurner states that "the answer must be sought in the Kosovo conflict".
"In Brussels, it is believed that only Vučić can solve these problems." They see in him a strong man who will explain to the Serbs that Kosovo is irretrievably lost. Only the nationalist Vučić can explain to the Serbian nation the loss of one of 'its' provinces. In Brussels, they adhere to that theory. And that's why they stick to Vučić as well", writes the text of the respected weekly.
But why would Vučić clear the way for the independence of Kosovo, the journalist asks.
"If he did that, he would lose a key position." As long as he has her, Brussels has an understanding for him. That's why he plays on time. So far, he has not made any key concessions regarding Kosovo. Brussels continues to remain patient – and quiet.”
It is interesting that exactly one year ago Ladurner wrote about a similar topic, the EU's attitude towards Vučić, and that the President of Serbia responded to that text at a press conference, Deutsche Welle reminds.
Tonight, protests are taking place in several cities of Serbia. In Niš, citizens are protesting against local television coverage, while in Zrenjanin they gathered in support of student Luka Mihajlović
The students of the Faculty of Agriculture in the blockade have announced a blockade of the Aviation Square in Zemun for tomorrow (July 19) at 17 p.m.
The Basic Court in Novi Sad confirmed the indictment of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office against lawyer Nemanja Aleksić for several criminal offenses
How the unsuspecting Prime Minister Đuro Macut became involved in glorifying the Non-Aligned Movement, implementing a foreign policy that was one of the trademarks of Tito's communist Yugoslavia
The people of Novi Sad continue their protests in front of the houses of progressive officials. Is it "lynching", "pure Nazism" or something else?
Just as Šešelj pulled a gun on the students at the beginning of the nineties, so Vučić pulls his beaters on their rebellious daughters and sons today. It's the same policy, just adapted to the times
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, acquits thugs and madmen who beat and trample students, while arresting those same students. A people in rebellion is no longer guaranteed a bare life - but the guild will pay for this regime in the end
Protests in Serbia no longer impose questions of "whether" and "if", they have become systemic events. Tolerance in society has turned into an insatiable need for normality, for the rule of law
Exclusive: Research by Slobodan G. Marković and Miloš Bešić on the attitudes of Belgrade students in the plenum
What we didn't know about them subscribeThe archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
