Lopandić Fears Ursula von der Leyen Could Again Support Vučić

Duško Lopandić fears that Ursula von der Leyen could once again lend political support to Aleksandar Vučić if the European Commission president visits Serbia in October.

Lopandić, deputy leader of the Serbia Centre party and a member of the European Movement in Serbia, said the timing could be especially problematic because the visit is expected during a possible pre-election campaign. He argued that it would be linked to the question of Serbia’s membership in the European Union.

“There is a negative tradition of Ursula von der Leyen previously showing unjustifiably excessive closeness and support for Vučić,” Lopandić told the newspaper Nova. “There is a fear that this could happen again.”

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There is a negative tradition of Ursula von der Leyen previously showing unjustifiably excessive closeness and support for Vučić. There is a fear that this could happen again.

He also addressed speculation that Vučić might not meet von der Leyen if he resigns as president before the visit. Lopandić said such a resignation would not be connected to the European Commission president’s trip, but to Vučić’s electoral calculations if he decided to run for prime minister.

“Maybe he will combine parliamentary and presidential elections,” Lopandić said. He described that as one of several speculations about how Vučić could create further confusion for the opposing side.

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Maybe he will combine parliamentary and presidential elections.