Jovanovic Says Democracy under Threat, Calls Weak Support to European Policy, Modernization Worrisome

Cedomir Jovanovic LDP dialog FPN (Photo: Milan Obradovic)

Liberal Democratic Party president Cedomir Jovanovic said on June 5 that democracy in Serbia was under threat and that the increasingly weaker public support to European policies and modernization of society were worrisome.

Jovanovic stressed that "the street," as it turned out, had not generated new ideas, or "drive and a new 'messiah,'" read a press release issued by the party.

"Exactly the opposite happened. What little energy there was, burned up, as did people's belief that it is up to us what our society and state will be like.

Instead of resistance to groupthink, the street was used as a chance to have a new leader come out on top. That is why the protests failed, and the people who got their hopes up don't know today what they fought for that whole year," Jovanovic said.

He stressed that the notion of looking for a person who will "suddenly appear and solve all problems" in Serbia was flawed, and that this wouldn't happen, because changes require "an idea."

"Serbia has to choose: democracy or putinisation -- one state, one leader. If we want one man to call all the shots, if we want to replace (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic with someone else -- long term, that's very bad for all of society. Serbia can do better, different. That's why you vote, because elections are the best chance," said.