Serbian police clashed with tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Belgrade on Friday, as public frustration with President Aleksandar Vucic's 12-year rule reached a boiling point.
An estimated 140,000 demonstrators, led largely by student groups, flooded the streets of the capital calling for snap elections and political reform. The protest marks the largest in a series of nationwide demonstrations in recent months. Chanting “We want elections,” the crowd faced a heavy police response, including the use of tear gas and stun grenades.
Authorities confirmed that dozens of people were arrested during the unrest. In a separate development, Serbia’s Higher Court in Belgrade announced that five individuals were detained on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.
President Vucic responded by accusing the demonstrators of being part of a foreign-backed effort to destabilize Serbia. “They wanted to topple Serbia, and they have failed,” he posted on Instagram.
Interior Minister Bratislav Gašić condemned what he called “violent behavior” by protesters and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
The protests began last December following a deadly incident at the Novi Sad railway station, where the collapse of the roof killed 16 people. Many citizens blamed systemic corruption and mismanagement for the tragedy, which led to the resignation of the former prime minister.
Sladjana Lojanovic, a 37-year-old farmer from the town of Sid, joined the protest in solidarity with students. “The institutions have been hijacked. Corruption is everywhere. Elections are the answer, but I don’t think Vucic will step down willingly,” she told Reuters.
Vucic has so far resisted calls for early elections. His Serbian Progressive Party and its allies currently control 156 out of 250 seats in parliament. Opposition groups accuse the president of eroding democratic institutions, limiting press freedom, enabling corruption, and maintaining ties with organized crime—accusations he denies.
Although Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership, the government has maintained close relations with Russia and has not joined Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
As protests intensify, various sectors of society—students, opposition leaders, teachers, workers, and farmers—have united in calling for change. At the close of Saturday’s demonstration, organizers played a recorded message urging Serbians to “take freedom into your own hands.”
“The authorities had every opportunity to prevent this escalation by listening to the people,” the statement read. “Instead, they chose repression and violence. Any further unrest will be their responsibility.”
With political tensions rising and public dissatisfaction growing, the pressure on President Vucic and his administration is mounting. Protesters say they will not back down until their demands are met.
Source: theghanareport
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