In yet another speech marked by contradictions, insults, and overt accusations, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic once again targeted N1 and Nova S television stations, claiming, on the one hand, that he “never even thought” of banning them, while at the same time accusing them of “overthrowing the constitutional order” and spreading “lies” that he said allegedly serve to mobilize his own supporters.
In an address rife with spin, Vucic portrayed himself as a defender of media freedom, even as he openly declared that the government “could have banned these television stations long ago,” and said that he and his associates “never laid a finger on them.” Throughout his remarks, he employed delegitimizing rhetoric, accusing N1 and Nova S of “spreading hatred” and “lying about dead children,” while branding them “thieves who sue each other.”
Vucic further said that the fact that N1 and Nova S exist is actually “good for the government” because, in his view, without “their lies,” there would not be enough “emotional drive” within his own ranks. For this reason, he claimed these media outlets should be treated with care.
Although he claimed that he “doesn’t interfere in ownership relations,” Vucic publicly labeled business partners as “thieves,” alluding to alleged conflicts between Dragan Solak and the new management of United Group.
This is yet another in a series of statements in which, instead of answering questions about political responsibility, the president systematically targeted independent media, downplayed pressure and attacks on journalists, and positioned himself as the only barrier preventing their alleged shutdown.
Source: N1
