Fajon hails postponement of election,says more time to gain trust in electoral process

Tanja Fajon (Photo: STA / Bor Slana)

Tanja Fajon, chair of the European Parliament (EP) delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee, said that it was very important that an agreement had been reached to hold a regular parliamentary vote in March, which would give the citizens of Serbia more time to gain trust in the electoral process, plus help make the election fair and democratic.

After a third round of talks between Serbia's government and part of the opposition, on the requirements for a free and fair vote, as well as a number of meetings in Belgrade with the same agenda, Fajon said she was satisfied as progress had been made and that an essential agreement on the freedom of the media had been reached.

EP rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik said that despite suggestions there might not be enough time to meet all of the requirements for a fair vote, one of the major results of the talks was that a deadline had been attached to each requirement.

EP mediator Knut Fleckenstein said a big step forward was that five new people would join the nine-member Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (REM), adding that "an election boycott is not the solution," suggesting that its advocates "should reconsider" their decision.

According to the law, Serbia's next election must take place by May 3 at the latest.