Schieder: ODIHR recommendations not implemented

Schieder was part of the international observer mission at the mid-December parliamentary and local elections in Serbia.
Belgrade daily Danas quoted him as saying that it’s sad to see that the recommendations were not implemented especially because the political system in Serbia has been increasingly unstable over the past few years with increasing authoritarian tendencies.

He said the elections were an opportunity for President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) to show the direction they want the country to develop in.

Schieder expressed hope that Serbia will take a constructive reform path towards rule of law and democracy as the biggest country in the region which has huge responsibility in securing peace and stability.

He warned that the Serbian authorities were not taking a path towards the European Union, adding that if Vucic, who he sees as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, continues trying to destabilize the region, the EU should consider freezing the expansion process among other things.