Lopandic: Vucic Moves Focus onto Economic Themes as Distraction from Political Crisis

Dusko Lopandic (Photo: Milos Miskov)

Serbia Center party vice president Dusko Lopandic has said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has changed the narrative relative to Europe because he did not take part in the EU - Western Balkans Summit in December, but did attend the EU meeting on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans held in Skopje.

"Bearing in mind the political crisis in Serbia, Vucic has turned to economic themes and is now talking about the economy. We have constant schizophrenia in the authorities' messages. There is a systemic campaign that has been going on for five years - an anti-West campaign, while on the other hand, when there is talk of the economy they say we cannot do without the EU," Lopandic told N1.

He pointed out that Vucic was trying to shift the focus from the question of election irregularities in Serbia, "which is the key question for our country because there is no democracy or progress without fair elections." 

"Our authorities will have this issue on their back all the time, until it is resolved," said Lopandic. According to him, a way to solve this crisis has to be found, seeing as all the institutions the opposition has addressed so far have played dead.

The strong reactions from Europe regarding election fraud and irregularities were to be expected, Lopandic added.