Serbia’s political scene remains tense as opposition leaders and government officials traded conflicting accounts of European Union reactions to protests in the country.
Dragan Đilas, president of the Freedom and Justice Party, said on social media that the EU is changing its stance on President Aleksandar Vučić, citing discussions at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Đilas, who visited Strasbourg with other opposition representatives, said European lawmakers expressed concern over violence against students and demonstrators, which he attributed to the government.
“European leaders are fed up with Vučić and his inner circle. This shift is largely due to public protests led by students,” Đilas wrote. He stressed that opposition figures repeatedly highlighted abuses against protesters, educators, and students, and said these discussions could influence future EU resolutions and the European Commission’s stance toward Serbia.
Đilas denied claims by Vučić and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić that opposition figures called for sanctions against Serbia. He clarified that any sanctions being considered target top officials allegedly responsible for corruption and police violence, not the country or its citizens. He also dismissed reports that the opposition promoted foreign control over Serbia’s government or supported lithium mining, which the opposition rejected as government propaganda.
Brnabić praised European Commissioner for Enlargement, Maarten Kos, for condemning violence against Serbian officials during the same Strasbourg session. Speaking to local media, Brnabić said Kos’s comments aligned with European norms and standards, and she reaffirmed her intention to defend Serbia’s national interests in upcoming Brussels meetings.
Brnabić also rejected the opposition’s claims that sanctions were sought over Vučić’s engagement with Russia, arguing that requests for punitive measures stem from the opposition’s inability to defeat Vučić in democratic elections. She accused the opposition of seeking sanctions against their own country and people, framing it as a political maneuver rather than a response to international concerns.
The conflicting statements underscore ongoing divisions within Serbia over democratic governance, human rights, and the country’s path toward European integration.