German MEP: It's an absolute scandal that Germany pays Vučić's advisor and exerts influence this way

A German Member of the European Parliament has labeled it an "absolute scandal" that the German government, through one of its agencies, is funding an advisor to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Martin Gunter, an MEP from Germany's Left Party, stated that his party is demanding answers from the government regarding this arrangement.

"It is an absolute scandal that the German government, through one of its agencies, pays someone who advises – let's put it that way – the president," Gunter told N1. He emphasized that since the Serbian president does not hold an executive function, any formal connection should be established through official government or parliamentary channels, not indirectly.

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It is an absolute scandal that the German government, through one of its agencies, pays someone who advises – let's put it that way – the president.

Recent investigations by Der Spiegel magazine and the Belgrade investigative journalism network BIRN revealed that Jörg Heskens is officially engaged as a "long-term advisor for administrative partnership between the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Serbian Presidency." He is employed by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), which operates on behalf of the German government.

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This truly shows that it is scandalous to exert influence in this way.

"This truly shows that it is scandalous to exert influence in this way," Gunter asserted. "Of course, it is, because everyone knows that Mr. Vučić is a very important figure in Serbia. But to do it bypassing official institutions represents a complete scandal. And I want to be very clear: I, my party, and my colleagues in the Bundestag will ask very serious questions about this, because this situation requires very concrete answers from the German government."

Gunter recalled that his party had previously asked questions about the matter, only to be told by the German government that it had no official knowledge of the project. "And now it turns out they have a direct contract with the president, financed by state money. So, this is a scandal and we must get serious answers from the government about what has actually been happening," he stated.

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And I want to be very clear: I, my party, and my colleagues in the Bundestag will ask very serious questions about this, because this situation requires very concrete answers from the German government.