Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic issued an appeal for restraint following recent clashes in Belgrade and other areas involving activists from the ruling party and student protestors. During a visit to the State Data Centre in Kragujevac, Vucic urged the public to remain calm. He stated that while citizens should be free to express their political viewpoints, violence was unacceptable.
“Let everyone present their programmes, let them express their positions, let them go to the podiums, but not call for killing, not call for violence,” Vucic remarked, questioning whether citizens should retaliate with force when attacked. Looking ahead, Vucic announced that early parliamentary elections are anticipated within two to six months. He added that he would offer congratulations to any political opponents who secure a victory on the same evening.
Furthermore, he stated that public opinion polls did not indicate that the student list held a popularity comparable to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. The backdrop to the unrest involves student-led demonstrations that have seen blockades at over 60 faculties across Serbia during 2024 and 2025. These protests center on anti-corruption demands and the desire for early elections.
The movement was significantly galvanized by a fatal incident in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, when a concrete canopy at a recently renovated railway station collapsed, resulting in 16 deaths and one serious injury. The protesting students have announced their intention to boycott the upcoming vote, opting instead to support a slate of candidates who have no prior involvement in national politics.
Topics: #calm #call #let
