The PES condemns the hate speech used by prominent members of the Serbian ruling party during a recent session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
Vladimir Orlić, former president of the National Assembly of Serbia and a member of ruling the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) directly attacked prominent members of the European Parliament, among others two members of the S&D group – Andreas Schieder and Tonino Picula. In the plenary in Belgrade, Mr. Orlić even offended the MEP’s directly, mockingly awarding them a fake order for service to the Republic of Kosovo.
PES secretary general Giacomo Filibeck said:
“This is not the first time the ruling Serbian party SNS attacked European Parliament members, showing disrespect to the European Union in an attempt to crack democracy and citizens’ rights in Serbia. Current attacks are even more dangerous considering that additional instability in the region has been fueled from the plenary of the Serbian National Assembly. Especially given the relations between official Belgrade and Pristina. Such accusations carry even greater weight because they come from a high-ranking official of the Serbian Progressive Party and former president of the Serbian National Assembly, Vladimir Orlic.”
The PES has previously expressed its concern about the rule of law in Serbia after the government used brute force against the opposition protests in early January. European Socialists and Democrats have always supported the European future of Serbia and the Western Balkans and believe that deepening the democratic process in the region will only benefit Serbia and its citizens.
