Kos responds to Vucic’s insults: When MEPs are called scum, that reveals a questionable understanding of democracy

“In Belgrade we have a problem,” Kos said following her meeting with Austrian Minister for European and International Affairs is Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Vienna.

“When members of the European Parliament are called scum, it reveals a questionable understanding of democracy. President Vucic’s and (Serbian Parliament) Speaker Brnabic’s statements against the EU will also not improve Serbia’s reputation in Europe,” Kos warned.

The Commissioner reminded the government in Belgrade of the commitments it made to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and to her personally.

Her advice to the Serbian government is clear – focus on the promised reforms. This means a judiciary that is independent and able to fight corruption effectively, media that can work freely and independently and electoral law that guarantees that only the will of the Serbian people decides the majorities in parliament, said Kos.

The commissioner also underlined that “people have the right to protest” and that “the severe violence on the streets of Serbia, acts of vandalism, must stop,” and expressed expectation for the police to act appropriately and respect fundamental rights.

Vucic had called the members of the European Parliament who attended the protest in Novi Sad “scum,” claiming they were “the worst scum gathered there.”

He accused them of “brutally interfering in Serbia’s internal affairs” and threatened that all who, as he put it, “try to destroy Serbia from outside,” would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.