Zdravko Ponoš, president of the Serbia Centre (SRCE) party, accused Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić of intentionally creating regional tensions to divert attention from the “wreckage” of his Kosovo and European Union policies.
“After 14 years in power, the result is – neither Kosovo nor EU integration. To shift attention from this failure, Vučić is lighting new fires in the region. As in the 1990s, his last concern is the harm these fires will cause to Serbian citizens and Serbs across the region,” Ponoš wrote on X.
The comments came after Croatian President Zoran Milanović canceled a Brdo-Brioni Process meeting due to Vučić’s recent statements and actions. Ponoš noted that Vučić’s inability to travel freely is unsurprising, given restrictions on his presence in Serbian cities such as Novi Sad, Čačak, and Užice.
Ponoš criticized what he described as the “false patriotism” of Vučić and his allies, arguing that they use nationalist rhetoric to cover the mismanagement of Kosovo and EU integration. He warned that while creating political distractions, Vučić is undermining Serbia’s judiciary, media, and universities.
“Vučić may believe he can operate in this smoke to manipulate the judiciary and media at will. He would not be the first arsonist to be consumed by a fire he himself started,” Ponoš concluded.
Vučić, responding to Milanović, stated that attending the meeting was less important to him than paying respects at Jasenovac.
