Opposition: Serbia's Ruling Party Cannot Lead EU Accession Amid Corruption Allegations
Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Branko Miljuš of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP) stated that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) will not lead Serbia into the EU.
- Miljuš argued that the EU has no place for corrupt regimes that suspend the rule of law, beat dissidents, and steal elections.
- He criticized the government's approach to EU integration, citing a lack of progress and a disconnect from Brussels' expectations.
Branko Miljuš, a prominent member of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP) and a national representative, has delivered a scathing critique of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party's (SNS) approach to European Union integration. Miljuš contends that the SNS, characterized by alleged corruption, suppression of the rule of law, political violence, and electoral fraud, is fundamentally incompatible with EU values. He asserts that Brussels will not admit a regime that engages in such practices, effectively halting Serbia's path to full membership. The SSP official dismissed the government's claims of progress, particularly mocking the statement by Danijel Apostolović, head of the operational team for EU accession, who cited his team's existence as proof of commitment. Miljuš also pointed to the contradictory statements from Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of the European agenda despite Serbia failing to open a single new chapter in four years. This internal Serbian political discourse reveals a deep skepticism about the government's sincerity and capability in pursuing EU membership, contrasting sharply with the government's official narrative. From a Serbian perspective, the debate is not just about technical compliance but about the very nature of the regime and its commitment to democratic principles, which Miljuš argues are being sacrificed for political expediency. The article highlights that Brussels is increasingly judging Serbia not by its words but by its actions, leading to discussions about suspended EU funds rather than accession clusters.
Miljuš ocenio je da Srpska napredna stranka neće uvesti Srbiju u Evropsku uniju, jer tamo, kako je naveo, nema mesta za korumpirane i sa kriminalom povezane režime koji suspenduju vladavinu prava, tuku neistomišljenike, kradu izbore i proganjaju nezavisne novinare.
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.