Serbian parliament speaker Ana Brnabic said on Thursday that claims some citizens were paid to attend a political rally in Belgrade were “nonsense” and not supported by evidence.
Speaking to K1 television, Brnabic was responding to reports by media outlets N1 and Nova S that their reporters had allegedly infiltrated groups of people who were paid to attend the rally “Serbia – Our Family” held at Belgrade Arena.
Brnabic said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had previously stated that attendance at the rally was voluntary and that no one was required to attend.
She also criticized non-governmental organizations and media reports alleging that members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offered benefits to voters, including medical treatment advantages, in exchange for political support, describing such claims as false.
Brnabic also said accusations that Serbia was suppressing media freedom were part of a broader narrative linked to the country’s independent foreign policy, adding that the aim was to portray Serbia as a totalitarian state that was not on a European path.
She said key objections in a Council of Europe platform report on journalist safety in 2025 concerned a proposed law on foreign agents and alleged irregularities in the selection of members of Serbia’s electronic media regulator (REM). Brnabic said the foreign agents law had been proposed by a parliamentary group and was never placed on the parliamentary agenda.
Brnabic, who is also a senior official of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, said all municipalities were equally important to the party ahead of upcoming local elections in 10 municipalities scheduled for Sunday.
She said the elections would be challenging, adding that the party considered every election important, including those at the local community level.