Serbian lawyer demands accountability from media that served Vučić for 14 years: Capital is one thing, creating public opinion is another

Belgrade lawyer Bozho Prelevic has called for deep institutional reforms in Serbia after the parliamentary elections on October 25, placing particular emphasis on the responsibility of the media, which, according to him, have served Aleksandar Vučić's government for 14 years.

Prelević has stated that the change of power should be accompanied by a strategic plan for reforming state institutions, including the media sector, the police and the army.

According to him, the new authorities must first define the objectives of the reforms, identify the people who can implement them, and set concrete deadlines for their implementation.

"They need to draft a strategic plan. On the one hand, they need to strengthen the state, so that they know exactly what they need and which people are hindering them. They need to know the goals and identify the people who can achieve them. They also need to set a timeline for implementing the reforms," ​​Prelević stated.

He emphasized that in order to implement changes, people capable of reforming Serbia must be selected, which he described as a country plagued by institutional problems.

One of the main issues that Prelević has raised is the responsibility of the media, especially private television stations and those that, according to him, have spread false information during Vučić's government.

"In the media sector, what should be done? What will REM do? What should be done with private televisions? What should be done with those who have lied for 14 years? How to restore educational and cultural programs? All these issues must be addressed," he said.

Prelević has also raised concerns about the influence of private media owners on editorial content, emphasizing that ownership and financial investment in a medium should not mean unlimited control over informing the public.

He has raised the question of whether a new owner of a television station should have the right to interrupt the broadcast of news editions, creating what he has called "information darkness."

"Can the new owner shut down the news journal? Does he have the right to create an information blackout? I think he has no right. Can they do this in Portugal? Of course they can't. They shouldn't be able to do it here either," Prelević declared.

According to him, a clear distinction should be made between private capital and the editorial responsibility that a media outlet has towards the public.

"Capital is one thing, and editing and the edited program are another," the Serbian lawyer emphasized.

In addition to the media, Prelević has demanded that the reform process also include the police, raising the issue of the responsibility of officials who may have violated the law over the last 14 years.

He has questioned whether such officials should benefit from privileged pensions and high salaries, without first reviewing their activity in state institutions.

"Who are those who have broken the laws? Let's see if they should go on a privileged retirement at the age of 50, with the highest salaries in this country. Did they deserve this with their service over the last 14 years?", Prelevic asked.

He has also called for a review of the activities of the Serbian army, criticizing its focus, according to him, on the arms trade.

"What does the army do, or what has the army done? Apart from dealing with arms sales, what else has it done?" he declared.

In conclusion, Prelević emphasized that reforms should not be limited to changing political leaders, but should extend to all institutions, examining the responsibility and functioning of each sector.

According to him, only such a process, developed systematically and with clear objectives, can create the conditions for sustainable changes in Serbia.

The GeoPost