The French Socialist Party has called for the suspension of the contract for the sale of “Rafale” jets to Serbia.
The French Socialist Party reacted to the signing of the agreement between France and Serbia for the purchase of “Rafale” aircraft, expressing regret over the complete lack of parliamentary consultation. They stated that Serbia is “not only allied with Russia but also pursues a systematic destabilization policy in the Western Balkans.”
In connection with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, during which he signed a contract worth around three billion euros with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for the delivery of 12 next-generation fighter jets, the Socialist Party urged the French President to submit the contract to Parliament and suspend it until the parameters for the use of the Rafales and their democratic oversight are recorded, guaranteed, and monitored beforehand by the defense agreement.
The French Socialists recalled the events in Banjskë, noting that, according to their statement, those responsible in Serbia were not held accountable. They mentioned issues such as the fraudulent parliamentary and local elections in December, as reported by international ODIHR observers, Serbia’s refusal to acknowledge the genocide recognition resolution for Srebrenica, the promotion of the “Great Serbia” myth, the alignment with Hungary’s stance against EU sanctions on Russia, and the refusal to investigate the hundreds of bodies found near Batajnica military airport, where the Rafales are reportedly set to land.
In this context, the Socialist Party not only questions France’s justification that this treaty will integrate Serbia into Europe but also expresses solidarity with the concerns raised by democratic forces and civil society in the region.
“On the other hand, the Socialist Party fears that at the national level, this agreement will end any claims made since 2019 about restoring France’s influence in the Balkans and, at the European level, discredits the prospects for European integration and further discourages reforms and democratic forces in Serbia under President Aleksandar Vučić’s autocratic rule,” the response continues.
Additionally, the largest French newspaper, Le Monde, reported that the French president did not mention any instigation of unrest in Kosovo by his Serbian counterpart.
