POSSIBILITY OF ACHIEVING POLITICAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Summary
Political rights and freedoms, as well as other human rights and freedoms, represent a guarantee of democracy, as well as a means by which it is controlled. The author answers the question to what extent the fact that power is exercised in elections and that it is also changed contributes to a more secure realization of guaranteed political rights and freedoms for citizens. The author points out that it is very important for the government to enable freedom of thought and expression, as well as freedom of association and assembly, and if this is not the case, then there will undoubtedly be a loss of political support from voters. The author treats the right to freedom of opinion and expression in his work as a foundation for building a democratic society and as a basic assumption that proves respect for the principle of the rule of law. The author further explains that it is precisely the possibility to realize this right that is a condition for the realization of all other political rights and freedoms. Voting rights in labor stand out as one of the most important political rights of citizens. The author believes that by respecting this right, the Republic of Serbia guarantees that its role is to achieve general well-being for its citizens. The author presents the freedom of peaceful assembly of citizens as one of the significant forms of citizen participation in the political life of the community. The Law on Public Assembly from 2016 in the Republic of Serbia significantly improved the legal framework for exercising the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and achieved a higher level of compliance of national law with European Union law. The right to petition is a human right guaranteed by the Constitution, and the author explains in the paper the legal basis of the petition, what it should contain and to which authorities it should be submitted. The author places special emphasis on the analysis of media freedom, which represents one of the fundamental political freedoms in the Republic of Serbia.
Keywords: freedom of thought and expression, right to vote, freedom of assembly and association, right to petition, freedom of the media