Milo Lompar: Police state in Serbia replaced by a mafia state, yet mafia never created a state anywhere

Despite their differing viewpoints, both professors agreed on one crucial point: the current government misuses both civic and national agendas in Serbia.

Lompar criticized the regime for seeking foreign support to cover internal decay. “This regime continuously creates problems it cannot solve. It seeks foreign political support for internal devastation, leading to absolute social and national disintegration. The police state of the communist era has been replaced by a mafia state, which has perfected absolute ruthlessness,” Lompar said.

Bakic highlighted the regime's entanglement with organized crime. “We don't know if the regime leader is part of organized crime or merely complicit, but it's clear that the republic has been hijacked. The regime leader has shattered the opposition with the help of major powers, primarily the United States and Germany. This has created a tragic farce where politics, organized crime, and a quasi-colonial status are intertwined,” Bakic added.

He stressed his reluctance to engage solely in practical politics, preferring to support changes rather than lead them. “Maybe out of desperation, I might take the lead, but that’s another issue,” he remarked.

Lompar criticized the opposition parties for their lack of coherent action against the regime. “We are in a vacuum, and people are directing their dissatisfaction in various directions. The main responsibility lies with the opposition parties, who need to provide a clear and unified approach, including non-violent, extra-parliamentary methods,” Lompar said.

Proposing a solution, Lompar called for a unified platform of civic and national values. “We must have a platform where civic and national values coexist. Civic-oriented individuals must recognize the national identity of this state, while nationally-oriented individuals must not ignore human rights violations. This approach can expose the regime's lies, showing they are neither truly nationalistic nor civic,” Lompar explained.

Bakic critiqued the left for failing to position itself as a force beyond the traditional divides of Serbia, noting the disempowerment of ordinary workers and peasants. Lompar argued that social issues should be addressed at a general level to foster collective identification. “When you mention issues like water scarcity in Zrenjanin or unemployment in Vrbas, they seem isolated. The regime is more sensitive to national issues and diverts social organization in various directions,” Lompar stated.

The discussion also touched on the role of intellectuals, social subjugation, Kosovo, and resource sell-offs, emphasizing the complexity of Serbia's current political and social landscape.