Serbia between Scandals and Preparations for Regular Vote

Vladimir Bilcik Manfred Weber (Photo: Beta / Milos Miskov)

Following a meeting earlier this week with the European Parliament’s delegation, including the EU legislature’s rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, and the European People’s Party leader, Manfred Weber, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he “understood objections” concerning the status of human rights, democracy and media freedoms in Serbia. “Being critical of myself and us, I did understand certain objections by our guests, and said what I actually think,” the president told reporters, adding that electoral conditions should be improved, and that he was certain that was possible to accomplish. It was the first time President Vucic said there was room for improvement in the Serbian election system, without immediately voicing his own requirements, contrary to what the opposition has been asking for.