Mass protests demanding political change have engulfed Serbia, fueled by outrage over shootings, political corruption, and a pervasive atmosphere of violence, Euronews reports.
The capital city of Serbia, Belgrade has witnessed a continuous flow of demonstrators, with 20,000 and 200,000 taking to the streets since early May. These protests mark the most significant public demonstrations in Serbia since the downfall of Slobodan Milošević.
Initially triggered by a school shooting in Belgrade followed by another in a village, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people, the protests have evolved into a broader expression of discontent against the ruling government and President Alexandar Vučić. Demonstrators are calling for an end to the prevailing atmosphere of violence and fear, the manipulation of media, and rampant corruption.
“We want the rule of the law instead of the rule of one person,” Tara, a student, prepares her protest placard.
An intriguing symbol has emerged within the uprising, with protesters wearing animal buttons on their clothing. The choice of vultures and hyenas as representations of the ruling power's critics stems from President Vučić's derogatory remarks, labeling protesters as such. Demonstrators assert that they are standing against corruption, criminality, and institutional dysfunction in their country.
“We are demonstrating, because of the corruption, the criminality, and the malfunction of institutions in our country”, one of the protesters explained.
The demands put forth by the protesters include the resignation of President Vučić and an investigation into alleged connections between politics and organized crime. While Vučić has proposed snap elections as a potential solution, opposition parties are firmly opposed to this suggestion.
Prominent opposition politician Srđan Milivojević, a member of Parliament for the Democratic Party, argues that the prevailing conditions, including the presence of criminal groups during elections, do not allow for free and fair democratic processes. Milivojević advocates for a technical transition government that can establish the necessary conditions for transparent and equitable elections.
“We have numerous proofs that the highest State authorities are linked to organized crime. Criminal groups, since 2013, show up in elections (around polling stations). They try to frighten local people and they try to bribe opponents of the Serbian Progressive Party. These are not conditions to enable free and fair democratic elections. The only solution is a technical transition government that would prepare fair conditions for free elections. It’s important that the EU does not regard Vučić any longer as a stability factor,” Milivojević noted.
The protests have been marred by the presence of pro-government supporters who are reportedly transported from various regions of Serbia and neighboring countries. Some reports suggest that the ruling party funds these counter-demonstrations, although some supporters deny these allegations. Supporters of President Vučić express their unwavering loyalty, attributing positive changes in the country to his leadership.
In the high-rise apartments of the Fontana neighborhood in New Belgrade, you can find every political faction, including Vučić voters. Marijana is a member of the ruling Progressive Party. She moved from a rural area to Belgrade, studied economics, and worked in a business-tax office. According to her, since Vučić is in power, the country has changed for the better.
“Many young people have found a workplace, they build a lot of factories, people from villages too got (work) opportunities and they got jobs as well. In the past, there were people without social protection – but now this has changed." Marijana says.
The freedom of the press in Serbia has also come under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the government's control over the media landscape. The European Commission has criticized the Serbian government's increasing alignment with Russia, smear campaigns against political opponents, and attacks on independent journalism. Approximately 90% of the media in Serbia is believed to be under direct government control, hindering objective reporting. Independent news outlets such as KRIK, known for their investigative journalism on corruption and organized crime, face significant obstacles due to pro-government media campaigns that aim to discredit their work.
"Whenever we publish some story on corruption or organized crime then suddenly all media controlled by the government, start attacking me...and then I will appear on the front pages…they say that I am a member of mafia, who attack the president. Here they call me sadomasochist…they even call me terrorist." Stevan Dojčinović, editor in chief of KRIK said.
As Serbia aspires to become an EU member, these mass protests, allegations of political corruption, and press freedom concerns are presenting challenges to the country's progress toward European integration. The demonstrations highlight the growing demands for political change and a desire for a more transparent and accountable governance system in Serbia.
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