The European Democratic Party (EDP) has criticized what it described as obstacles facing Serbian voters abroad ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25, calling on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to closely monitor the electoral process.
Sandro Goci, a member of the European Parliament and EDP secretary-general, accused former Serbian President and “United Serbia” electoral list leader Aleksandar Vučić of fearing votes he cannot control.
According to an EDP statement, Goci said that Serbian citizens were ultimately paying the price for the obstacles facing voters abroad.
“The diaspora has rightly raised the alarm. We expect the OSCE to do its job, investigate these allegations and protect free and fair elections,” Goci said.
He added that he would not ignore what he described as suspicious voter registrations inside Serbia or obstacles facing voters living abroad.
Addressing Vučić directly, Goci asked whether he feared a political fate similar to that of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
“Mr. Vučić, are you afraid of the same fate as Orbán? You have lost touch with your people, and now you fear their judgment. Silencing critics will not restore trust. Blocking voters will not win their support,” Goci said.
He also argued that Serbia does not belong to Vučić and that citizens do not need his permission to remove him from power.
The EDP has called for greater scrutiny of the electoral process and urged the OSCE to examine the concerns raised regarding voting procedures for Serbian citizens abroad.
