Serbian PM accuses EU officials of meddling in domestic affairs, inciting protests

 Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has accused European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia Tonio Picula of inciting street protests in his country, saying that such calls are unacceptable.

"What is happening now is exactly what we warned about: from attempts to control student protests to a situation when they are ‘orchestrated’ by hardcore haters of the Serbs, such as the European Parliament’s rapporteur Tonio Picula. His interference in our country’s domestic affairs is scandalous, especially his public call on students to take to the streets with political demands. I trust in the wisdom of our youth, and am confident that their love for their homeland will lead them to turn away from those who want to trample on and destroy it," the Serbian government quoted him as saying.

"Serbia is a sovereign and democratic state and will not allow this Tonio Picula to rule it. Anyone with any respect for themselves and who cares about their motherland should ignore everything that comes out of this man's mouth," he added.

Anti-government protests organized by students and opposition activists have been rocking the country since November 2024 following the November 1, 2024 deadly accident at the Novi Sad railway terminal that killed 15 people.