The European Green Party on Tuesday called on the European Union and the European People’s Party (EPP) to pressure Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to end police violence against protesters and ensure free and fair elections without delay.
The party accused Vučić’s government of sliding into authoritarianism, citing “brutal police violence, hundreds of arrests of peaceful protesters and opposition members, and an evident attempt to avoid elections.”
“The EU holds real political and economic leverage over Serbia and must act immediately,” said Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Greens. “The brave people of Serbia deserve support to secure free elections and a true path towards integration into the European family.”
Co-chair Vula Tsetsi said the number of political prisoners in Serbia was “growing by the day” and accused Vučić of clinging to power through repression. “Autocrats have a dangerous habit of justifying authoritarian practices in the name of so-called stability. This must be condemned,” she added.
Responding to the criticism, Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić dismissed the Greens’ statement as “hypocritical” and accused the party of interfering in Serbia’s internal affairs.
“The European Green Party is not interested in the rule of law in Serbia. They attack President Vučić, who received around 2.3 million votes in the last presidential election,” Brnabić said.
She added that Serbia would be governed “by those elected by our citizens in democratic elections” and accused the Greens of ignoring calls by their Serbian partners, the Green-Left Front, for violence against police officers.