About: Authoritarianism
Serbian elections: Vucic’s victory marks the start of his party’s decline
The outcome of the Serbian elections on 3 April was in line with most expectations. The country’s strongman, Aleksandar Vučić, won more than convincingly in the first presidential round, with 58.65% of the votes. But the interesting part is in the details.
Vucic claims victory in elections ‘without suspense’
Serbia’s strongman Aleksandar Vučić claimed a landslide victory in general elections Sunday (3 April) paving the way for another term as president and extending his decade-long rule in the Balkan nation. Official results were set to be announced late Monday...
Serbia’s EU ambition – the best guarded secret in the election campaign
In the predominantly Russia-leaning public space in Serbia, an EU candidate country since 2012, aligning with the bloc is obviously not a popular political message ahead of the parliamentary, presidential, and Belgrade elections due on 3 April.
Analyst says if Putin was a candidate in Serbia, he would get over 70% of the vote
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić knows that “Russia has become completely useless for Serbia”, but he will keep up his pro-Putin rhetoric to please his electorate in the run-up to the elections on 3 April, says Orhan Dragaš, a security expert in Belgrade.
Vucic’s media domination ‘hard to catch up’ in Serbia election campaign
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling SNS party are set to win another mandate in the presidential and parliamentary elections due on 3 April, even though the opposition is mounting the most serious challenge to his rule since 2014.
Autocracies outdo democracies on public trust – survey
Public trust in governments running the world's democracies has fallen to new lows over their handling of the pandemic and amid a widespread sense of economic pessimism, a global survey has found.
Analyst: Aleksandar Vucic is a Jekyll and Hyde character
Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic has two personas. The pro-Western, Dr Jekyll side remains reserved for Brussels, EU capitals, and Washington, while citizens in the country get Mr Hyde, who is slowly transforming Serbia into a postmodern Weimar Republic, Srdjan Cvijić told EURACTIV in an interview.
A Bulgarian perspective on Serbian politics
The US messages sent to Bulgaria in April and Serbia in November are equally straightforward, the only difference being that in Bulgaria, they already produced a big effect and a change of power took place, writes Antoinette Nikolova.
Enlargement 2021: Captured states, captured Commission
With regard to EU enlargement, the citizens of the Western Balkans, but also many EU citizens, expect EU institutions and the member states to abandon hypocrisy, writes Aleksandra Tomanić.
Another presidential hopeful arrested in Nicaragua
Another presidential candidate was arrested in Nicaragua on Saturday (24 July), police said -- the seventh potential contender detained by Daniel Ortega's government in the lead-up to elections on 7 November.
Slovenian Presidency with Janša: What happens on Twitter should stay on Twitter
Prime Minister Janez Janša, who is under fire in Western media as Slovenia takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, may be clumsy on Twitter but he is not an autocrat, writes Žiga Turk.
EU-Serbia: A stagnation comfortable for both sides
No progress in Serbia’s EU integration process appears to be a solution that fits both the EU side which is increasingly critical toward the authoritarian trends in Belgrade and the lack of progress with Kosovo, and the ruling bloc in Belgrade which doesn’t see EU relations as important for its voters, writes BETA agency.
Campaign group flags judicial interference in journalist cases in Serbia and Montenegro
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) flagged on Friday (11 June) two instances where key judiciary figures interfered with legal proceedings in cases involving two investigative journalists in Serbia and Montenegro.
EU criticised over surveillance aid in nations where privacy at risk
European Union aid has been used to pay for surveillance equipment and training in countries with inadequate safeguards against excessive state snooping, rights groups said on Wednesday (11 November), calling for an end to the "unacceptable" practice.
Belarus leader says Putin offers help as pressure builds
Vladimir Putin has offered to help ensure Belarus's security, according to its president Alexander Lukashenko, as pressure builds on the strongman leader and opposition protesters prepare for a show of force Sunday (16 August).
Open letter to Donald Tusk: EPP’s support for Vucic is a disgrace
European People's Party President Donald Tusk has publicly supported Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić ahead of the country's parliamentary election on Sunday (21 June), which the opposition is going to boycott. In response, Serbian opposition leader Dragan Djilas sent an open letter to Tusk. EURACTIV is publishing its shortened version.
Ahead of vote, virus emboldens Serbian president’s one-man show
An excuse to dominate the airwaves, sideline the opposition and cast himself as a saviour: President Aleksandar Vučić has emerged from the coronavirus crisis stronger than ever as he looks to extend his vice-like grip on Serbia's troubled democracy.
Despite increased solidarity in the pandemic, authoritarianism threatens
Authoritarian attitudes, like the desire for a strong leader, or aggression against dissenters, often increase when people are under threat. With the ongoing coronavirus crisis, experts fear this is also true now.
Orbán seeks EPP backing for his absolute powers
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seeking conservative support to remain within Europe's main centre-right political bloc despite concerns over his adoption of emergency powers to rule by decree.
Sassoli shows his differences with von der Leyen over Hungary
European Parliament President David Sassoli has asked the European Commission to assess whether the new laws introduced in Hungary under the disguise of coronavirus emergency comply with the most important text of EU treaties, he said late on Tuesday (31 March).
Serbian democracy is under attack, indeed
The united front held by Serbia’s mainstream democratic opposition to boycott Vučić’s sham election at all levels is the only honorable and practical course of action, wrtites Vuk Jeremić.
Serbia’s government simulates democracy
The key obstacle to free and fair elections is widespread voter repression by the regime of President Aleksandar Vučić, writes Nebojša Zelenović.
Francophone group in warning over Guinea election
The international association of French-speaking countries warned on Monday (24 over the credibility of the electoral register in Guinea's upcoming votes.