OPINION:
Much like the rest of Europe, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit Serbia hard. But with a population that is older than most around the world and having received an influx of hundreds of thousands of Serbian citizens from abroad over the last few weeks, our country is at even greater risk than others. As a result, President Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian government have taken serious precautions to protect our citizens and economy.
Sadly, however, some have inaccurately depicted these precautions as government overreach or even a suppression of democracy in Serbia. Neither is true. The measures adopted by Mr. Vucic and the Serbian government to fight coronavirus are both proportional to the threat and consistent with democratic practice in times of crisis.
First, Serbia has declared a state of emergency. Many of our European partners have done the same, including Italy, Spain, Romania, Estonia and others. Since the Serbian Assembly went into recess because of social distancing requirements, in parliament’s absence, Mr. Vucic, the outgoing speaker of the assembly, and I, as prime minister, appropriately employed our joint constitutional prerogative to declare a state of emergency, which is limited to 180 days.
We have used this authority to close schools and reduce non-essential movement to certain times of the day, including a shelter-in-place directive for the elderly, which is comparable to what the vast majority of governors and mayors in the United States have done.
Second, to concentrate the limited medical care and resources that exist, Serbia has established numerous quarantine facilities throughout the country. One of these facilities is the Belgrade Fair dome, which can provide temporary isolation to 3,000 of our infected citizens. Unfortunately, photos of the facility were released in the midst of preparations, causing critics to call it “chilling.”
Had these critics waited until its completion to pass judgment, however, they would see that the Belgrade Fair is far more comfortable than those first photos might suggest. As one visitor said, “it’s not the Hilton, but it’s not terrible either.” While I wish Serbia was in a position to establish temporary Hiltons, no country is at the moment.
Third, in coordination with the International Monetary Fund, the Serbian government adopted a $5.6-billion economic stimulus package that focuses on support for small businesses and the deferral of tax payments. It also includes direct financial aid to each citizen of Serbia. Although far smaller in absolute terms, these measures track closely with those adopted in the United States and many EU countries.
But some have attacked the policies, arguing that the Serbian government is pursuing them for the purpose of pre-election politics. Of course, these same individuals would denounce the government had we failed to support the country’s employers or provide direct financial assistance to Serbian citizens the way other governments have.
Finally, some have criticized President Vucic’s statement that “Belgrade’s graveyards won’t be big enough” if people ignore isolation and social distancing requirements. They have twisted and manipulated his words to suggest this was some sort of threat. It certainly was not. Rather, this was a statement of fact. Mr. Vucic has lost his closest childhood friend to coronavirus. His son has now contracted the disease. The pandemic is serious, especially for one of the oldest societies in Europe. If our citizens violate social distancing requirements, people will die. This is true in all countries, and all of our citizens need to understand the consequences of irresponsible behavior in the clearest of terms.
Regrettably, what has happened in many societies around the world is that critics have exploited the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to condemn their political, commercial or philosophical opponents, accusing them of actions and abuses that fit neatly into a pre-existing narrative. We must stop with this. It is as true as it is cliche to say that the world faces a common enemy. And we must unite to defeat it — otherwise, this common enemy will defeat us.
• Ana Brnabic is prime minister of Serbia.
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