MEP Says at Least Part of the Opposition Needs to Run in Local Elections in Serbia

Extraordinary Parliamentary Elections in Serbia, Dec. 17 2023 (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Andreas Schieder said on May 24 that the recommendations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) had not been carried out as required, but that it would be necessary for at least a part of the opposition to run in local elections, so that voters were presented with a real choice and alternative to the ruling party.

“I believe this is an unfortunate development, as not all of the recommendations by the ODIHR for a free, fair and democratic election have been implemented,” Schieder said for BETA, when asked to comment on the failure of the Serbian opposition to run united in upcoming local elections.

Schieder, who was a member of the European Parliament’s observation mission during the Serbian elections on Dec. 17, said “it is regrettable, especially having in mind that the political system in Serbia has been becoming increasingly unstable over the past several years, and showing increasing authoritarian tendencies.”

The European parliamentarian added that as the region's largest state, Serbia also had a huge responsibility to secure stability and peace in the Western Balkans.