European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, Tonino Picula, said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and former Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik have lost a strong political patron following the departure of Viktor Orbán from power in Hungary.
Picula stated in an interview with Croatian public broadcaster HRT that Orbán’s Hungary had acted as an EU member state that systematically protected policies coming from Belgrade and helped prevent sanctions against the Serbian leadership within European institutions.
He said that Vučić and Dodik have now lost an important political backer, referring to Orbán’s previous close ties with both leaders.
Picula also commented on Serbian media, claiming that concerns within the ruling system are reflected in pro-government tabloids, which he described as being under direct control of the authorities.
According to him, these outlets have recently been trying to argue that a “Hungarian scenario” of political change cannot happen in Serbia.
The EU rapporteur further said that neither Vučić nor Dodik are genuinely interested in European Union membership, arguing that Serbia’s EU narrative is maintained mainly for financial support from Brussels.
He also stated that the EU should reconsider its approach toward Serbia, suggesting that financial pressure is the only effective tool for political change.
Picula added that real political change in Hungary was driven by public dissatisfaction and the presence of a credible alternative to long-term rule, and that similar dynamics eventually led to Orbán’s electoral defeat.
