Đilas: Starović's announcement that he will implement the Venice Commission's recommendations is a familiar pattern of SNS lies

The opposition in Serbia continues to voice strong criticism against the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and President Aleksandar Vučić, particularly concerning the country's European integration process. Dragan Đilas, the president of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), has labeled the government's claims of fulfilling European Union recommendations as a familiar pattern of deception.

Đilas argues that the very need for recommendations from bodies like the Venice Commission and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) indicates that Serbia is not genuinely committed to democratic reforms. He pointed to the European Parliament's resolutions on election irregularities and what he termed the "Mrdic-Vučić laws" as evidence that the country is moving away from, rather than towards, EU standards. According to Đilas, Serbia's stalled progress in joining the EU is solely due to Vučić's actions and his perceived "fight against Europe."

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If Serbia were truly on the European path, we would have fair elections, and then ODIHR would not be giving recommendations, and the European Parliament would not be adopting resolutions on election theft.

The current political climate in Serbia is marked by financial pressures, with Brussels freezing funds allocated to the country. Đilas suggests that this financial strain is a primary motivator for the government's renewed, albeit superficial, engagement with EU demands. He posits that Vučić understands that genuine compliance would threaten his grip on power, leading him to repeatedly attempt to "deceive Europeans."

From a Serbian perspective, this political maneuvering is a recurring theme. Opposition parties often accuse the government of using the EU accession process as a tool for domestic legitimacy while avoiding substantive reforms that could challenge the ruling elite. The international media might report on the technical aspects of EU recommendations, but local observers see a deeper political game at play, where the government prioritizes maintaining control over genuine democratic transformation. Đilas's statement reflects a deep-seated skepticism among a significant portion of the Serbian public regarding the government's true intentions and its commitment to the European path.

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Vučić knows that fulfilling Europe's demands would be the end of his rule, and that is why he will, for God knows what time, try to deceive Europeans.