Schieder: Completely clarify election fraud allegations in Serbia

2024-01-17 16:51:06

Instead of ensuring transparency, the Serbian government continues to attack independent election observers

Vienna (OTS/SK) – In the elections in Serbia on December 17, 2023, international election observation missions found a number of serious deficiencies, including SPÖ-EU delegation leader Andreas Schieder. “The list of irregularities is long: phantom voters, vote buying, one-sided media reporting and so on… But instead of ensuring complete information and transparency, the highest Serbian government officials, including Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and President Aleksandar Vučić, are on the job independent election observers defamed. This is a serious foul and a clear rejection of the proper conduct of democratic elections. Neither Austria nor the EU can accept such an approach,” said Schieder. On his initiative, the EU Parliament is today debating the events surrounding the Serbian elections and will adopt a resolution on the subject at the next plenary session in early February. ****

Schieder explains: “The erratic and abstruse attacks by the Serbian government on me and other independent election observers clearly show that we have obviously hit the mark with our criticism of the election process. All allegations and reported irregularities must be fully investigated and resolved. This is also a prerequisite for continuing on the European path. The EU must finally end its appeasement policy towards Vučić and ensure that Serbia, as the largest country in the region, fully meets its responsibility for stability and peace in the Western Balkans.” (Conclusion) jf/up