A political scandal has erupted in Serbia following remarks by Snežana Paunović, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. The opposition, Kosovo officials, and the European Union are demanding her immediate resignation, accusing her of justifying ethnic cleansing.
Minister Paunović, who was born in Kosovo and represents the Socialist Party of Serbia (founded by Slobodan Milošević), stated in an interview with the Belgrade newspaper Kurir on July 11: “If I had been in Milošević’s place in 1999, I would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.” She clarified that she did not mean physical liquidation but rather measures that would force Albanians to “leave for their mother country” (Albania), in response to what she described as Pristina’s policy of displacing Serbs.
The opposition Free Citizens Movement called on Prime Minister Đuro Macut to dismiss Paunović, stressing that a person who justifies the expulsion of people based solely on nationality cannot hold a position in the government of the Republic of Serbia. Serbian human rights activist Nataša Kandić said such words return the country to the “dark past” of the 1990s.
In Kosovo, Minister of Social Welfare Andin Hoti accused Paunović of continuing the “genocidal ideology of Milošević.” Kosovo officials view the statement as a threat not only to the region but also as evidence that Serbia has not abandoned the policies of the past.
The European Union strongly condemned the remarks. EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper stated: “Such rhetoric has no place in Europe. It contradicts the values of human dignity, reconciliation, and good neighbourly relations.” Brussels reminded Serbia of its commitments in the EU-facilitated dialogue on normalisation of relations with Kosovo.