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Massive protest in Belgrade against Vučić and his government

2024-12-22 21:03:47Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Massive protest in Belgrade against Vučić and his government
Massive protest in Belgrade against Vučić and his government

Tens of thousands of people gathered in a central square in Belgrade on Sunday to protest against Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his government.

The protest, organized by students and farmers' unions, is part of a wider movement demanding responsibility for the collapse of the roof of a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad, which left 15 dead on November 1.

The protest began with a 15-minute silence in honor of the victims and was followed by chants of "Your hands are bloody." Smaller rallies were also held in the cities of Niš and Kragujevac.

Many in Serbia blame the disaster on widespread corruption and shoddy workmanship at the railway station building, which was renovated twice in recent years as part of dubious projects involving Chinese state-owned companies. Protesters are demanding that President Vučić and those responsible for the roof collapse face justice.

So far, authorities have arrested 13 people over the Novi Sad incident, including a minister who was later released, adding to public distrust of the investigation process.

Protests in recent weeks have challenged the power of President Vučić, whose opponents accuse him of increasingly autocratic rule.

The Serbian leader officially seeks membership in the European Union, but has faced accusations of violating democratic freedoms and maintains close ties with Russia and China.

He initially accused the students of starting the protests, saying they were being paid by the West, while later claiming to have met their demands, including the publication of documentation regarding renovation work at the Novi Sad train station.

In a show of confidence, the Serbian president inaugurated a section of a newly built highway in central Serbia on Sunday. During a ceremony, President Vučić said he would not bow to opposition demands for a transitional government and accused his opponents of exploiting students to seize power without elections.

"There is nothing of this. We will defeat them again and more convincingly than ever, and we will defeat them because we work for the people," he said.

Opposition parties say a transitional government would prepare free and fair elections and could be a way out of political tensions, as the ruling populists have also been accused of voter fraud in the past.

In an effort to thwart the protests, the Serbian government has extended the winter school holidays by almost a week earlier. In recent days, more high school students have joined the movement.

Classes at universities across the Balkan country have been suspended for weeks, with students staying inside faculty buildings. Occasional violence has plagued the protests as pro-government groups have tried to crack down on the demonstrations.

A group of farmers said Sunday that police seized the tractor of one of their leaders before the protest. In addition to the farmers, Serbia's students have also received nationwide support from all walks of life, including their professors, media personalities, lawyers and prominent individuals./VOA


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