Facing a storm of international condemnation and domestic outrage over her televised comments advocating for the “ethnic cleansing of Kosovo in 1998,” Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Snežana Paunović has issued a defiant written response.
Rather than apologizing or stepping down, Paunović dismissed the widespread backlash as “malicious propaganda” and a “misinterpretation” of her words, despite the interview being captured entirely on video. Far from distancing herself from the wartime legacy of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević, she proudly reaffirmed her absolute allegiance to the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).
Key Elements of Paunović’s Written Defense
In her written statement, issued after coordinated demands for her resignation from opposition parties (such as PSG and SRCE) and leading human rights NGOs, the minister defended her lifelong political identity:
- No Retreat from SPS Policy: Paunović made it clear that she stands firmly by the historical actions of her party, which was founded and led by Milošević during the Yugoslav Wars.“I am a socialist, and I do not give up on the policies of the SPS. Serbia is my home, and the SPS is my room in that house.” — Snežana Paunović, Minister of State Administration
- The “Propaganda” Label: She labeled the fierce criticism from local and regional actors as a coordinated campaign of distortion, claiming she is fully prepared to publicly debate the historical events of the 1990s and the role of the SPS.
- Pride in the Past: Instead of seeking a middle ground, the minister declared she remains proud of her party’s political decisions during the 1990s, which she described as a period where the SPS led the nation through incredibly difficult historical circumstances.
A Growing Political Rift in Belgrade
Paunović’s refusal to back down—coupled with the vocal support she received from SPS leader and current Interior Minister Ivica Dačić—has intensified the political crisis for Prime Minister Đuro Macut.
[ The Paunović Contradiction ]
|
+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| |
v v
[ The Written Defense ] [ The Recorded Reality ]
Claims words were "misinterpreted" Explicitly stated: "If I were Milošević,
and calls backlash "propaganda." I would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo."
Reaffirms pride in 1990s SPS. Advocated for mass forced deportations.
By framing her defense around pride in Milošević-era policies, Paunović has directly challenged the reformist agenda that Prime Minister Macut’s administration has presented to Brussels.
With the European Parliament and the European Commission already warning that denying war crimes and glorifying 1990s-era nationalist rhetoric will freeze Serbia’s accession path, her refusal to resign leaves the ruling coalition in an increasingly fragile position internationally.
