European Greens: Europe Shouldn’t Remain Silent on Vucic’s Violence and Repression

European Green Party

The European Green Party, also known as the European Greens, fully supports the peaceful protests and their demand for an end to corruption and authoritarianism in Serbia, calling on the European People’s Party (EPP) to which Vucic’s party, the Serbian Progressive Party is an associate member, not to allow (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic to become its next (Viktor) Orban (the prime minister of Hungary), according to a release published on the Greens’ website on March 18.

Police violence, arrests on trumped up charges, and the use of an illegal sound cannon are the latest proof that the government of Vucic is becoming increasingly authoritarian and aggressive, it is said in the statement. The most recent student-led protests were the largest ever public gathering in Serbia, their demands should be heeded, says the European Green Party, but “Vucic’s government deliberately organized obstructions and provocations on an unprecedented scale.”

European Green Party Co-Chair Vula Tsetsi reacted: “Students in Serbia are leading an incredible protest movement. Despite countless provocations from the Vucic regime, the protesters remained peaceful.” She also said the Greens “fully support the peaceful protests and their demand for an end to corruption and authoritarianism in Serbia. We are still waiting to see any public reaction from the EPP to which Vucic’s party is an associate member.”

Ciaran Cuffe, another co-chair of the European Green Party, said: “Vucic has disturbingly told demonstrators ‘you would need to kill me if you want to replace me’. When a president makes ominous threats like this, the EPP should remind him of the basics of democracy and non-violence before things get out of hand.” He also stressed that the EPP “shouldn’t allow Vucic to become its next Orban. EPP officials should put pressure on the Serbian regime to back down, to look into the students’ demands, and take steps to form an interim government that will ensure and organize free and fair elections, restoring confidence in democratic institutions,” he stressed.