Fajon tells DW: Not wise to stage elections now

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Tanja Fajon MEP told Deutsche Welle on Monday that it would be wise not to organize elections in Serbia before the coronavirus pandemic ends because the situation is not suitable for quick elections.

Fajon, Chairwoman of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, said that a decision on the elections is up to the Serbian authorities and warned of what she called a serious escalation of tension through the media. We see protests and a serious escalation on the streets and rooftops, she said.

“Society is very much divided. We should say clearly that politicians bear the responsibility to avoid using inflammatory language, oppose hate speech, avoid more social divisions and not deceive the public during and after the election campaign,” she said. According to the MEP, the first thing that has to be done is improve election conditions. “A radical step needs to be taken in regard to the media, the role of public broadcasters along with an urgent deescalation of tension,” she said.

“We are still in the pandemic and the question is whether conditions can be created to build trust and have people believe that their health won’t be compromised. The Serbian people deserve to turn out for elections and vote freely for the parties that they believe will bring them and their children a better future,” Fajon said. She wondered if the Serbian authorities would agree to international election observers.