Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has urged calm following recent localized clashes in Belgrade and other areas between activists associated with the ruling party and protesting students. Speaking during a visit to the State Data Centre in Kragujevac, Vucic addressed the tensions, 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 questioned the appropriateness of retaliatory violence, asking, “I also ask my people, if you are attacked, should you also hit back?”
During his address, Vucic mentioned that early parliamentary elections in Serbia are anticipated within the next two to six months.
He added that should his political opponents secure victory, he would offer his congratulations that same evening. Furthermore, Vucic stated that public opinion polls do not indicate that the student movement is closely matched in popularity to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. The students, who have organized blockades at over 60 faculties across Serbia in 2024 and 2025, have been leading anti-government protests.
Their demands include anti-corruption measures and the scheduling of early parliamentary elections. These protests were notably galvanized by a tragic incident in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, when the canopy of a recently renovated railway station collapsed, resulting in 16 fatalities and one serious injury. The protesting students have announced they will abstain from voting, instead supporting a slate of public figures with no prior political involvement in the country.
Topics: #calm #call #let
The political tensions in the country appear to be escalating despite the official calls for calm.
What steps will the government take to prevent further confrontations between the ruling party’s activists and student protesters?