On Friday 8 May, MEPs Tanja Fajon (S&D, Slovenia) and Vladimir Bilčík (EPP, Slovakia), who are facilitators for cross-party dialogue in Serbia, called for an easing of tensions following a violent incident in front of the Serbian Parliament and the announcement of parliamentary and municipal elections to be held on 21 June.
“As the country emerges from the extraordinary Covid-19 lockdown, it is more important than ever that all political forces and citizens have full confidence in the integrity of the electoral process. Nobody should be exposed to any unnecessary risks when performing their political campaigns and in casting their votes”, they said in a statement.
Fajon and Bilčík called on political forces and citizens to engage in the electoral process “to ensure the widest possible representation and promotion of different ideas and contributions which reinforce pluralism and strengthen democracy”.
They believe that, because of the restrictions placed on the election campaign by the coronavirus, “the role of the media is more important than ever”.
But, calling on the media to be objective and professional, they warned that “a step-change in addressing the area of media and the role and regulation of the public broadcasters is crucial for a successful electoral process”.
The MEPs expressed great concern about polarisation in the media environment, the use of the media for political attacks and the escalation of tensions. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)