SPN writes to EP, calls for urgent international investigation into elections

“Your call for an independent international investigation, as well as for a type of ‘Priebe Report’…, is a significant step towards addressing the systemic issues undermining democratic processes in Serbia. We firmly support the continuation of these efforts and look forward to the European Commission’s response,” reads a letter by SPN leaders addressed to EP President Roberta Metsola, EP vice-presidents, parliamentary group leaders and MEPs.

They said the urgent deployment of an ad hoc fact-finding mission to Serbia, as stipulated in Article 4 of the EP Resolution, is of utmost importance.

“Such a mission is crucial for gathering first-hand information and ensuring accountability for any violations of democratic norms, especially those aspects outside the scope of the OSCE/ODIHR reports, which directly impacted the outcome of the elections for the Belgrade City Assembly, but also parliamentary, provincial, and partial local elections held on 17 December 2023. Considering the current political crisis in Serbia, we urge the European Parliament to take the lead and deploy such a mission as soon as possible,” reads the letter.

The SPN leaders urged the European Parliament to continue insisting on the fulfillment of the ODIHR recommendations, especially those calling for an audit of the voters’ registry before any future elections take place.

“As representatives of the pro-European democratic opposition in Serbia, we stand committed to fostering democratic values, upholding the fundamental rights of our citizens, and advancing the principles enshrined in the Copenhagen Criteria. However, achieving these goals requires decisive action to address the current challenges posed by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party,” said the leaders of the political parties assembled in the Serbia Against Violence coalition - Biljana Djordjevic and Radomir Lazovic (Green-Left Front), Pavle Grbovic (Movement of Free Citizens), Zoran Lutovac (Democratic Party), Dragan Djilas (Party of Freedom and Justice), Miroslav Aleksic (People’s Movement of Serbia), Nebojsa Zelenovic and Biljana Stojkovic (Together), Aleksandar Jovanovic (Ecological Uprising), Milos Parandilovic (New Face of Serbia) and Zdravko Ponos (Serbia Center).