Serbian opposition leader questions media silence on Albanian president's visit

Miroslav Aleksić, president of the People's Movement of Serbia (NPS), has publicly questioned why pro-government media outlets failed to report on Albanian President Bajram Begaj's recent visit to Bujanovac and Preševo. Aleksić raised this issue during a parliamentary debate on proposed amendments to the Law on Financing Political Activities, using the omission to question Serbia's national sovereignty.

"Is Serbia a sovereign country or not?" Aleksić asked, adding, "Can the Serbian flag not fly in southern Serbia?" He stated that while he supports reconciliation and welcomes visits from any country's president to engage with their national minorities, basic protocol must be respected. Aleksić pointed out that Albanian President Begaj did not visit Belgrade, unlike previous visits by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and characterized the current approach as dangerous and indicative of Serbia's inability to protect its sovereignty.

Beyond the diplomatic concerns, Aleksić addressed the proposed election campaign financing. He advocated for a limit of 2.5 million euros for presidential and parliamentary election campaigns. Aleksić argued that the government's proposed figures of six to seven million euros create an insurmountable financial barrier for opposition parties, violating the principle of equal opportunities.

Aleksić accused the government of proposing these inflated figures to manipulate public opinion and control the media. "You need that money for media control. You pay the media to hide the truth from the citizens of Serbia," he asserted, suggesting the funds are intended for propaganda rather than fair electoral competition.

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Is Serbia a sovereign country or not?