Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has urged calm following recent clashes in Belgrade and other areas between supporters of the ruling party and protesting students. Speaking during a visit to the State Data Centre in Kragujevac, Vucic appealed for restraint, stating, “I call on everyone to calm down. 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.” He also questioned whether citizens should retaliate if attacked.
During his address, Vucic indicated that early parliamentary elections in Serbia are expected within two to six months. He added that if his political opponents win, he would offer his congratulations that same evening. Furthermore, Vucic asserted that public opinion polls did not indicate that the student movement was close in popularity to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.
The student protests, which involved blockades at over 60 faculties across Serbia in 2024 and 2025, have been centered on anti-government demands and calls for early parliamentary elections. These protests gained momentum following a fatal incident in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, when the canopy of a renovated railway station collapsed, resulting in 16 deaths and one serious injury. The protesting students have stated they will abstain from voting, instead supporting a list of public figures with no prior political involvement.
Topics: #calm #call #let
The President’s call for calm seems like a necessary plea following the reported clashes.
What measures does the President suggest to de-escalate the tensions between the two groups?