logo
Thousands attend pro-Serbia government rally after months of unrest

Thousands attend pro-Serbia government rally after months of unrest

Yahoo13-04-2025
Tens of thousands of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's supporters have held a rally in Belgrade following months of unrest across the country.
A monitoring organisation said around 55,000 people had gathered in front of the National Assembly. Despite some Vucic followers travelling from neighbouring countries, attendance was significantly lower than last month's huge anti-government protest.
There have been regular demonstrations in Serbia since November when the collapse of a railway station canopy in the city of Novi Sad killed 15 people, triggering widespread public anger.
A number of Serbians blamed the incident on alleged corruption and corner-cutting by Vucic's Progressive Party.
The Serbian leader had promoted the rally on Saturday as the launch of a "Movement for the People and the State", which would "save" Serbia from forces working to "destroy" the country.
In a speech at the event, he called on prosecutors to work to restore order and peace.
He claimed the student-led protests had been threatening Serbia's peace and stability, accusing attendees of being paid by "foreign intelligence agencies".
"Certain foreign powers cannot bear to see a free, independent and sovereign Serbia", he said, without clarifying which "powers" he was referring to.
Vucic also criticised national broadcaster RTS, describing it as a "key participant" in an attempted "colour revolution".
After the Novi Sad incident last November, some blamed what had happened on more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's prior renovation.
It was considered a key part of the government's flagship infrastructure project - the high-speed line from Belgrade to Budapest in Hungary.
The demonstrations that followed the disaster saw attendees use the slogan "corruption kills".
They claimed that the opaque procurement procedures the government used for infrastructure projects had enriched a few favoured contractors while putting public safety at risk.
Despite multiple resignations - and Vucic's insistence that he was going nowhere - protests grew.
Last month, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's capital.
An independent monitor estimated 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever.
Government denies using 'sonic cannon' at Serbia protests
Fury over Serbia station tragedy prompts first arrests
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president

time7 hours ago

Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Serbian police said they detained 79 university students and other protesters as they broke up street blockades in several cities that are part of persistent dissent against President Aleksandar Vucic's populist government. Officers in riot gear intervened late Wednesday and early Thursday in the capital, Belgrade, the northern city of Novi Sad and the southern cities of Nis and Novi Pazar. Authorities denied reports of police brutality and excessive force against demonstrators. University students behind the protests said police charged and injured many peaceful demonstrators. Witnesses told local media that riot police beat up protesters with batons and shields and that four students were hospitalized, including one with a broken clavicle. Four officers were injured and a police vehicle was damaged, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, noting officers 'acted in accordance with the law" while responding to the unrest Wednesday and early Thursday. Tensions in the Balkan country have soared since a rally Saturday demanding early parliamentary elections. The gathering by tens of thousands of people in Belgrade ended with clashes between riot police and groups of protesters. Vucic has refused to schedule a snap vote despite more than eight months of persistent demonstrations. The protests began in November after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people and triggering allegations of corruption-fueled negligence in state infrastructure projects. Parliamentary and presidential elections are due in 2027. While rejecting the election demand, Vucic has stepped up government pressure to curb the protests that he describes as 'terror' and attempts to bring down the state. Critics say Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish, which he has denied.

Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president
Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president

Hamilton Spectator

time7 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian police said they detained 79 university students and other protesters as they broke up street blockades in several cities that are part of persistent dissent against President Aleksandar Vucic's populist government. Officers in riot gear intervened late Wednesday and early Thursday in the capital, Belgrade, the northern city of Novi Sad and the southern cities of Nis and Novi Pazar. Authorities denied reports of police brutality and excessive force against demonstrators. University students behind the protests said police charged and injured many peaceful demonstrators. Witnesses told local media that riot police beat up protesters with batons and shields and that four students were hospitalized, including one with a broken clavicle. Four officers were injured and a police vehicle was damaged, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, noting officers 'acted in accordance with the law' while responding to the unrest Wednesday and early Thursday. Tensions in the Balkan country have soared since a rally Saturday demanding early parliamentary elections. The gathering by tens of thousands of people in Belgrade ended with clashes between riot police and groups of protesters . Vucic has refused to schedule a snap vote despite more than eight months of persistent demonstrations. The protests began in November after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people and triggering allegations of corruption-fueled negligence in state infrastructure projects. Parliamentary and presidential elections are due in 2027. While rejecting the election demand, Vucic has stepped up government pressure to curb the protests that he describes as 'terror' and attempts to bring down the state. Critics say Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish, which he has denied. Serbia is formally seeking entry to the European Union , but Vucic's government has nourished relations with Russia and China . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president
Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president

San Francisco Chronicle​

time7 hours ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Serbian police detain 79 protesters as dissent persists against populist president

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian police said they detained 79 university students and other protesters as they broke up street blockades in several cities that are part of persistent dissent against President Aleksandar Vucic's populist government. Officers in riot gear intervened late Wednesday and early Thursday in the capital, Belgrade, the northern city of Novi Sad and the southern cities of Nis and Novi Pazar. Authorities denied reports of police brutality and excessive force against demonstrators. University students behind the protests said police charged and injured many peaceful demonstrators. Witnesses told local media that riot police beat up protesters with batons and shields and that four students were hospitalized, including one with a broken clavicle. Four officers were injured and a police vehicle was damaged, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, noting officers 'acted in accordance with the law" while responding to the unrest Wednesday and early Thursday. Tensions in the Balkan country have soared since a rally Saturday demanding early parliamentary elections. The gathering by tens of thousands of people in Belgrade ended with clashes between riot police and groups of protesters. Vucic has refused to schedule a snap vote despite more than eight months of persistent demonstrations. The protests began in November after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people and triggering allegations of corruption-fueled negligence in state infrastructure projects. Parliamentary and presidential elections are due in 2027. While rejecting the election demand, Vucic has stepped up government pressure to curb the protests that he describes as 'terror' and attempts to bring down the state. Critics say Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish, which he has denied. Serbia is formally seeking entry to the European Union, but Vucic's government has nourished relations with Russia and China.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store