Serbian MP Branko Miljuš says government wants a crippled media regulator council

Member of the Serbian opposition party SSP, Branko Miljuš, said Serbia has lacked a professional and functional Media Regulator Council (REM) for almost 600 days. He claimed the ruling authorities prefer a "crippled REM" that would be unable to act, arguing that the current process serves President Aleksandar Vučić’s interests.

Miljuš noted that four council members – Ira Prodanov Krajišnik, Rodoljub Šabić, Mileva Malešić and Dubravko Valić – submitted written resignations to the National Assembly, ending their mandates. He pointed out that Serbian law does not require verification of such resignations, a step he said is being fabricated to claim compliance with EU accession conditions and ODIHR recommendations.

The parliamentary committee on culture and information adopted an opposition proposal stating there are no legal obstacles preventing the four members from delivering statements that they accept continued membership in the REM council, despite the unverified resignations. Miljuš and other opposition figures called for a council composed of nine independent professionals, as stipulated by law, describing any lesser composition as a "regime fraud."