Serbia’s RIK Debates Whether Vučić Is in Conflict of Interest as List Holder of “United Serbia”

The Republican Electoral Commission (RIK) is discussing four citizens’ complaints about whether there is a conflict of interest regarding the electoral list “Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia,” whose holder is the sitting president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić.

RIK member Sofija Mandić said the RIK was obliged to seek the opinion of the Anti-Corruption Agency, since the agency itself did not act ex officio when the president announced he would lend his name to the list.

“There are competent bodies that assess whether situations in which a public official finds himself… are contrary to the idea of the rule of law, separation of powers, free and fair elections and similar constitutional principles,” Mandić said at the commission’s session.

She added that President Vučić himself admitted he was in a conflict of interest at the moment he announced he would resign and that he would enter the campaign as an ordinary citizen. On the other hand, RIK chairman Vladimir Dimitrijević claims that in no EU country is there a ban on candidacy, except Croatia, and called on RIK members to respect political neutrality and impartiality.

The debate takes place ahead of the October 25 snap parliamentary elections, where the “United Serbia” list carries the sitting president’s name as its holder, while the RIK is expected to decide whether this constitutes a conflict of interest.

Source: Nova.rs