We are deeply concerned by the assault on an opposition leader in Serbia. Dragan Đilas, the president of the PES observer member party from Serbia, Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), was attacked by a group of people led by a prominent figure from the ruling party in Belgrade.
Đilas was admitted briefly to hospital after the attack. Representatives of the ruling coalition of President Aleksandar Vučić have accused the opposition leader of deliberately provoking the incident.
PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said:
“We condemn the use of violence in all forms as a way to intimidate democratically elected politicians. The government in Serbia is trying to create a sense of unease among its citizens and in its society. The hostile environment created by President Aleksandar Vučić towards the opposition is unacceptable and fundamentally undermines democracy and the rule of law.’’
The PES is alarmed by many recent developments in Serbia, such as reports of police violence against anti-government protesters, the use of intimidation tactics against opposition figures, and the obscurity surrounding the collapsed canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which claimed the lives of 14 people.
We stand with the Party of Freedom and Justice and Dragan Đilas, reiterating our stance that violence and chaos are pulling Serbia back from its progression in the EU accession process.
