Latest news with #IvicaDačić
Euractiv
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
New blockades and new provocations in Serbia
The barricades are multiplying in Serbia, while President Aleksandar Vučić has chosen to inflame tensions further by pardoning members of his party accused of assaulting a student. For the sixth time since students launched their campaign of civil disobedience last Saturday, dozens of roadblocks were erected last night in Belgrade and other cities such as Niš and Novi Sad, before being dismantled by police. "The police are on high alert" to protect "vital points" in the Serbian capital, explained Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić this morning. According to the authorities, 19 people were arrested overnight. Nearly 80 people were detained the previous evening, and clashes broke out following the 28 June demonstration, during which 140,000 people marched through the streets of Belgrade demanding snap parliamentary elections. In a message posted on Instagram yesterday, Vučić urged protesters 'not to destroy' Serbia, once again implying that the protest movement was being encouraged by mysterious actors 'from outside' the country. There is little chance, however, that such appeals for calm will persuade demonstrators – especially given that the president has simultaneously pardoned four Serbian Progressive Party supporters who had been prosecuted for attacking student anti-government protesters in Novi Sad in January. Following the incident, then-Prime Minister Miloš Vučević was forced to resign and was replaced in April by Đuro Macut, a medical doctor with no prior political experience, but who retained most of his predecessor's cabinet. After a prolonged silence, European Commissioner for Enlargement, Slovenian Marta Kos, said yesterday that she was 'closely monitoring reports of excessive use of force against protesters in Serbia'. These accusations were swiftly dismissed by former Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, now speaker of the National Assembly, who responded that she knew 'what the excessive use of force looks like', posting videos of police operations in Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Students have been challenging the Serbian authorities and denouncing official corruption ever since the roof of Novi Sad's recently renovated railway station collapsed on 1 November 2024, killing 16 people. The tragedy, which followed a high-profile but rushed reconstruction project, came to symbolise broader public anger over cronyism, poor infrastructure oversight, and the perceived impunity of those in power. (aw)
Arabian Post
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Post
Mass Protests Shake Belgrade With Police Intervention
Tens of thousands gathered in Belgrade on Saturday to demand early parliamentary elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vučić's 12‑year hold on power, prompting a heavy police deployment and tense confrontations. Authorities stationed riot police in full gear around government buildings and Parliament, while supporters of the president camped in Pionirski Park, bolstering the political standoff. After the main protest ended at around 22:00 local time, clashes erupted: demonstrators hurled bottles, flares and rocks, and police responded with pepper spray, stun grenades and physical force. Reports indicate dozens of protesters were detained, and six officers along with an unspecified number of civilians sustained injuries. University students, who have sustained the eight-month-long anti-corruption campaign since a fatal roof collapse at Novi Sad railway station, claimed authorities escalated tensions. Protesters released a statement on X, asserting that 'every radicalisation of the situation is [the authorities'] responsibility.' Interior Minister Ivica Dačić defended the deployment as necessary to preserve public order, stating police would 'apply all its powers to repel attacks, and arrest all those who attacked the police.' ADVERTISEMENT President Vučić, whose parliamentary coalition holds 156 of 250 seats, dismissed allegations of corruption and authoritarianism. He accused unnamed foreign actors of orchestrating the unrest and affirmed that those initiating violence 'wanted to topple Serbia', but he vowed they 'failed' and would face justice. Independent monitors estimated around 140,000 participants in the protest, contrasting sharply with the government's figure of 36,000. Demonstrators packed Slavija Square and adjacent streets, chanting 'We want elections!' and confronting lines of riot units. Some masked participants used makeshift shields and flares to push toward the pro-government encampment. The movement's origins trace back to November 2024, when a canopy collapse at Novi Sad station claimed 16 lives. That disaster sparked outrage over alleged state negligence and corruption, galvanising students and civic groups to call for accountability and broader political reform. The protests escalated into university blockades and nationwide demonstrations. Earlier this week, police arrested several individuals—including students and a former war veteran—accusing them of plotting to overthrow the government. Prosecutors alleged weapons were involved. Critics argue these arrests are part of a pre-emptive crackdown intended to intimidate dissenters ahead of Saturday's rally. Political analysts note the protest coincided with St Vitus Day, a symbolic holiday marking Serbia's medieval resistance against Ottoman rule. Choosing the date carries potent historical resonance and appears designed to evoke national unity. The president's supporters, some bussed in from across the country, echoed this theme via their slogans and visible presence.
Egypt Independent
31-05-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Egypt, Serbia discuss digital connection plan to facilitate labor mobility
Minister of Labor Mohamed Gibran and Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić discussed Friday 30/5/2025 how to activate cooperation mechanisms to facilitate labor mobility and open up new markets for Egyptian workers in the Serbian market. During a meeting between the two ministers today, the two sides hailed the strategic partnership between Egypt and Serbia, which is directly supported by the political leaders of both countries, according to a press release by the Labor Ministry. The ministers discussed the implementation of a digital connection plan to facilitate labor mobility, ensure workforce sustainability, protect workers' rights. Gibran stressed Egypt's readiness to meet the needs of the Serbian labor market with a skilled workforce, congratulating Serbia on winning the bid to host Expo 2027. The two ministers also discussed a range of issues related to promoting joint cooperation, especially on labor mobility. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic witnessed the signing of some cooperation agreements after talks between the two leaders on boosting cooperation in various fields in July 2024. The deals covered the fields of trade, investment, ICT, antiquities and museums, customs, and employment.
The Guardian
20-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Serbia's interior minister denies use of 'sound cannon' against Belgrade protesters
Ivica Dačić has denied accusations from rights groups and opposition parties that the Serbian security forces used a sonic weapon against protesters in Belgrade that briefly sowed panic and left some with symptoms that lingered long after Saturday's rally. Tens of thousands of anti-corruption protesters had gathered in what is regarded as the culmination of months of protest that have shaken the grip of the country's president, Aleksandar Vučić. Near daily protests have taken place across the country since November ,when a station roof collapsed killing 14 people in Novi Sad, Serbia's second city
