Opposition leader: Serbia ruled by cleptocracy

The opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) organized a conference in Belgrade on Thursday dedicated to the fight against organized crime. SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic addressed the gathering to assess that corruption in Serbia has enormous proportions. Opposition leader: Serbia ruled by cleptocracy According to him, Serbia needs a general anti-corruption strategy based on reform of institutions, changes to the legislation and partnership between the state and civil society. Nikolic stressed that corruption in Serbia had “enormous proportions” and that all influential factors in society had joined the theft of the public good, thus creating a “thievish oligarchy”. “This is a situation that can be called cleptocracy,” the SNS leader said and added that combat against corruption had never even started in Serbia because “everybody is working together”. He explained that combat against corruption was SNS’ priority because it would be impossible to revive the economy and accept European values without it. “Population largely has no confidence in the state institutions, value systems have been violated and there is a complete disorientation,” Nikolic said. He also added that there would be no new investments in Serbia without combat against corruption because corruption had a disastrous effect on the entire economic and social life. Tomislav Nikolic (Beta)

Opposition leader: Serbia ruled by cleptocracy

According to him, Serbia needs a general anti-corruption strategy based on reform of institutions, changes to the legislation and partnership between the state and civil society.

Nikolić stressed that corruption in Serbia had “enormous proportions” and that all influential factors in society had joined the theft of the public good, thus creating a “thievish oligarchy”.

“This is a situation that can be called cleptocracy,” the SNS leader said and added that combat against corruption had never even started in Serbia because “everybody is working together”.

He explained that combat against corruption was SNS’ priority because it would be impossible to revive the economy and accept European values without it.

“Population largely has no confidence in the state institutions, value systems have been violated and there is a complete disorientation,” Nikolić said.

He also added that there would be no new investments in Serbia without combat against corruption because corruption had a disastrous effect on the entire economic and social life.