The European Union and the United States for years tolerated the games of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, always hoping for a solution to the Kosovo problem, until Serbia became a "hybrid democracy" where elections are held officially, but electoral processes are far from free and fair.
This is what the German newspaper "Die Tageskeitung (TAZ)" wrote in an article dedicated to the extraordinary parliamentary, local, and provincial elections held in Serbia on Sunday, December 17, where the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won, making the Serbian president the political center of Serbia and continuing to dominate the Serbian political scene. "While European and American officials and politicians tolerated Vucic's games for years - always hoping he would untangle the Kosovo knot - Serbia became a 'hybrid democracy.' This means that official elections are taking place, but they are far from free and fair," wrote the German newspaper in Berlin.
In this regard, the German media is alarmed that it is depressing to live in Serbia, especially for people who believe in the rule of law, freedom of the media and freedom of expression, workers' rights, the welfare state, the importance of civil society, and public debate.
"For those who hate the cult of personality and the falsification of history, it is depressing to live in Serbia. And it is almost hopeless to live in Serbia because the good times just won't come - despite the geographical proximity and despite all the sweet talk of the Brussels bureaucrats. Serbia is a candidate for EU membership only on paper".
The German newspaper's article also criticized former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, especially for her role in strengthening Vucic's power in Serbia. Merkel, writes the German newspaper, naively and despite all the warnings believed in the will of the Serbian president to gradually harmonize Serbian politics with European standards./BGNES
