Procedure for proposing candidates for the election of Council members Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) was initiated at the session of the Committee for Culture and Information Assembly of Serbia which took place in a lively debate between representatives of the government and the opposition.
The Committee for Culture and Information also approved the REM Statute, which was submitted by the REM Council on December 8, 2023.
"REM will resist the pressures of the tycoon media"
The members of the opposition were dissatisfied with the urgent procedure by which the board session was convened, while the representatives of the ruling party expressed their belief that the new composition of the REM, "like the previous one", will do their work responsibly and resist the pressures of the opposition and "tycoon media that support it ".
The session was scheduled as a matter of urgency, and the deputies, as announced by the President of the Committee Nevena Đurić, were informed three hours earlier.
Member of the Democratic Party Zoran Lutovac indicated that, due to the importance of the topic, the Committee session should have been scheduled at least three days earlier.
"It is irresponsible and illegal behavior, because it is an important social issue that is being raised on a day when the budget and 67 other agenda items are on the agenda of the Assembly." It's as if this topic is being swept under the carpet and under the radar," Lutovac said and reminded that, according to the regulations, the REM Council should have been elected in August.
The President of the Committee replied that when the session is urgently scheduled, three days are not needed and asked why a few hours is not enough for the members of the opposition to appear at the committee session on a topic that is so important to them.
"You should be ashamed that only two of you came," said Đurić to the opposition MPs Lutovac and Rastislav Dinić.
She added that it should be in everyone's interest that the REM Council be elected as soon as possible.
Bakarec: The goal of the opposition is for Dragan Šolak's television to receive a national frequency"
The representatives of the ruling party, Nebojša Bakarec and Nataša Lazarević, joined the discussion, who pointed out that the session of the Committee for Culture and Information was scheduled in accordance with the procedure.
Bakarec pointed out that the goal of the opposition is for Dragan Šolak's television to get a national frequency.
He also referred to today's incidents in Parliament, stating that opposition representatives brought alcohol and tear gas into the Assembly.
Member of Parliament Nataša Jovanović pointed out that the opposition parties abuse and politicize all important topics in the worst possible way, including the election of REM Council members.
"I am sure that the future composition of REM will also resist the pressure of opposition MPs and the tycoon media that support them. REM members did their work honorably and responsibly, even though they were intimidated and attacked," said Jovanović.
Jovanović: Brnabić resisted vandals
She also reflected on today's debate in the parliament, praising the president of the parliament, Ana Brnabić, who, according to her, "resisted the vandals".
Opposition MP Rastislav Dinić responded by reminding her that it was she, as an opposition MP of the Serbian Radical Party in 2001, who poured water on the then Speaker of the Parliament Nataša Micić.
"This is a constructive and democratic position," Dinić said.
He assessed that the election of new REM members is the first step in solving the "acute political crisis in Serbia".
"Otherwise, it will lead to the escalation of this crisis, the current government will be solely responsible for the crisis," Dinić pointed out.
Source: FoNet
