Balkan elites (Serbia) face an accountability deficit; protests are legitimate

Serbia and the wider Western Balkans are the subject of this position, which holds that Balkan elites, above all in Serbia, face a genuine accountability deficit and that the protests against them are legitimate. Its advocates speak of corruption, cover-up, negligence and impunity, point to the protests that followed the Novi Sad canopy collapse, and cite resistance to the sale of protected land to foreign capital.

The position appears in the disputes over the Western Balkans political contest, Serbia's contested government and foreign capital and sovereignty, where it is voiced by 17 to 35 outlets.

It is answered by the position that a multipolar order is the legitimate alternative to US hegemony, which backs Serbia's government against Western pressure. The sides part on whether outside backing defends sovereignty or shields a government from scrutiny. Recent events show President Vucic calling snap parliamentary elections, then resigning to run for prime minister, protests continuing after he promised to step down, the EU warning Serbia over a state funeral for Ratko Mladic, and protests in Albania over a resort project linked to Jared Kushner.