Gozi: Vucic’s Insult of EP Offend Common Sense, Serbian People

Sandro Gozi (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

The general secretary of the European Democratic Party, Sandro Gozi, assessed on Oct. 23 that the insults Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic delivered to the members of the European Parliament (EP) were an offense to reason, democracy and the Serbian people.

He sent an official letter on Oct. 23 to the speaker of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, urging her to use the full authority of her office to defend the dignity, integrity and honor of the European Parliament and all its members. He added that the EP had to deliver a firm response to the “attempt to delegitimize and intimidate those who advocate democratic values in Europe and beyond.” “Once again, President Vucic chose the path of aggression and conspiracy instead of dialogue and accountability. 

Commenting on the EP resolution, he referred to MEPs as ‘pathological liars’ and ‘seriously ill,’ and added that he ‘did not expect that level of pathological lies from the EP’,” Gozi declared in a written statement to the media.

When a leader resorts to this, Gozi added, the illness is not in Brussels – but in the way in which he understands power. He said these were not the words of a democratic leader, but of a man who believes that yelling louder can replace facts and that a personal insult can erase accountability.

Gozi described the attacks on the United Media Group and independent journalists as unacceptable, and said that Vucic’s naming of reporters and accusing them of being part of a political conspiracy was an act of intimidation. “This is a direct threat to media freedom and a deliberate attempt to silence every voice that dares question the authorities. Media freedom and independence of journalists are not subjects for negotiation. They are the foundation of every society aspiring to join the European family. If President Vucic continues on this path of insults, paranoia and repression, he is not attacking the European Parliament – he is attacking the European future of Serbia itself,” Gozi stated.