Aleksandar Vucic: I’m afraid many have not understood your words, I believe I have
Representatives of the authorities have in the last few days presented the irresponsible journalism often growing into media lynching as proof that there is freedom of speech in Serbia. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic recently said that “in this country everyone is free and entitled to say and write what he wishes.” The law says otherwise. There are limits to freedom of speech under rule of law.
After a meeting between Vucic and Gunther Krichbaum, chairman of the German Bundestag’s Committee on the Affairs of the European Union, a two-question limit was announced due to the presence of the German guest.
Insajder.net’s reporter asked the prime minister why he and the representatives of his cabinet have been in effect suspending the Law on public information over the past few days. Though neither the visitor from Germany nor the premier of Serbia protested, one of the journalists present reacted with resentment that a question that was not the topic of the conference was being asked.
When the Serbian prime minister responded to the questions of the reporter of Insajder.net, which officially concluded the news conference, and when the journalists began to pack up and leave, Krichbaum asked Vucic to translate the questions she had asked.
After he received the explanation, Krichbaum commented that freedom of the press entailed responsibility. At one point, the prime minister addressed the reporter of Insajder.net saying: “Mr Gunther agrees with you.”
Then the German guest asked to speak about freedom of the press and the importance of the role that journalists should play, after which the prime minister of Serbia too wanted to add that the representatives of authority would strive to do better, but that he expected the same from those who are, in his expression, sinless.
Article 4 of the Law on public information:
Public information is free and not subject to censorship.
Direct and indirect discrimination of editors of media companies, journalists and other persons in the field of public information, especially based on their political opinions and beliefs or other personal characteristics, is prohibited.
The free flow of information through the media may not be threatened and neither may the editorial autonomy of the media, especially through pressure by threat, i.e. blackmail of editors, journalists or sources of information.
Position of Insajder’s editorial staff:
For years, a mechanism has been established to use certain media to discredit anyone who at any point becomes inconvenient. As a rule, it is mostly tabloids that run these stories, citing anonymous sources, hiding behind them to air numerous accusations against various individuals. The practice to date has revealed that such reports are almost never officially proven.
Media lynching is prohibited by the Journalist Code and the Law on public information. The violation of any law should be punishable under rule of law.
Less important is who the target of the media lynching was – whether a representative of the government, an opposition party, an independent institution, a journalist or any citizen of this country – rule of law means that the Law protects all citizens equally.
Lately, complete anarchy has taken root under the auspices of what we call freedom of the press. The law on public information was adopted, modeled on every European standard. At the same time, we have politicians breaking the Law, but there are journalists breaking the journalist code with equal frequency too.