Simic: This is a government of continuity and institutional violence, ethnic distance has never been greater

The new government will be a government of continuity, one characterized by violations of fundamental rights and the continued use of institutional violence against the Serbian people, Serb List MP Igor Simic said in the Kosovo Assembly ahead of the vote on the new government.

“Serb List MPs remained in the Assembly chamber, unlike some of our other colleagues, not because they wanted to listen to a wish list and fairy tales, but out of a sense of responsibility toward the citizens who elected them in the most recent early parliamentary elections,” Serb List MP Igor Simic said in the Kosovo Assembly ahead of the vote on the new government.

Simic pointed out that the policy statement presented was similar to that of the previous government, in which Serbs were likewise not even mentioned, while this time members of other communities were not mentioned either.

“When you look at this government and its composition, this will be a government of continuity, a government characterized by violations of fundamental rights. What is different compared with several months ago is that violations of regulations, which some thought were reserved only for Serbs, have now spread to this parliament as well, and that is why this chamber is so empty. The previous government, which had the same composition, also systematically violated all regulations, particularly those guaranteeing the rights of our people,” Simic stressed.

He recalled that buildings in the municipality of Zubin Potok had been demolished without a court decision and without the mandatory municipal decision, while people were frequently arrested without any evidence.

“That is not justice; it is violence. What particularly hurts our people is the fact that this is institutional violence. It is not the decision of an individual, but of someone wearing a uniform, someone representing an institution, and that makes it even worse for this society,” Simic said.

He added that the ethnic distance between the Serbian and Albanian peoples had unfortunately never been greater, even though they lived next to one another rather than with one another.

“Children are arrested over ordinary T-shirts, while those who beat members of our people have still not been convicted by a court to this day, despite all the complaints and evidence—neither in the case of the Stojanovic brothers in Gotovusa nor in the case of Mr Raskovic just a few days ago. That means the institutions are not functioning. Judges, prosecutors and police officers who want to perform their duties professionally have been sidelined. A few days ago, you boasted that you had opened 20 police bases in the four municipalities in the north, yet you have not created a single job. That is not what our people want. They do not want the militarization of that area, but at the same time they understand perfectly well the message being sent to them,” the Serb List MP said.

According to him, the rule of law has remained confined to political speeches because it does not exist in practice.

“Even today, ten months after the new authorities took office in the four municipalities in the north, the competent ministry has still not provided the mayors and municipal assembly members from all political parties with the decisions adopted by the previous leadership, many of which we believe were unlawful. That is not how institutions should function,” Simic said.

Of particular concern, he added, was the continuation of the policy of appointing to positions reserved for Serbs people who did not have the support of the Serbian people and had not received such support in elections.

“Nenad Rasic received more than 40 percent of his votes in the most recent elections in areas where no Serbs have lived for several decades. In the previous government, you appointed a Deputy Minister in violation of the Constitution because such appointments require the support of a majority of Serbian MPs. You neither had nor sought that support, but appointed those people unlawfully,” Simic stressed.

He said that, for all these reasons, Serb List MPs would vote against the new government, thereby conveying the decision of more than 44,000 citizens who had placed their trust in them.

“I know that my colleagues and I will be subjected to the most appalling insults on social media after this speech, but I want to tell you that we are not afraid of that. We are here to work in the interests of the people—first and foremost those who elected us, our Serbian people, but also everyone else—and such attacks will not intimidate us. Everything that is happening will not force Serbs to leave because this is our home and we are demanding that the rights currently in force be respected. We also know that, because of the numerous violations of the Constitution, this government will not last long and will be struck down by the Constitutional Court,” Simic concluded, adding that the Serb List would vote against the government.