Serbian student protests challenge Vucic's authority
In Serbia, mass student protests continue, with students accusing the authorities of corruption and negligence. In response, President Aleksandar Vucic organized a rally for his supporters.
On Saturday in Kragujevac, a central city in Serbia, another student protest took place. Tens of thousands gathered to express their dissatisfaction with the government's actions. Meanwhile, President Aleksandar Vucic held a rally in Sremska Mitrovica, where he promised to combat the so-called "color revolution."
The demonstration in Kragujevac was part of Serbia's Statehood Day celebrations, which commemorate the first Serbian uprising in 1804 and the adoption of the first constitution in 1835. Protesters, including students from various parts of the country, blocked the city center. The demonstrations began after a construction disaster at the train station in Novi Sad, where 15 people died. Protesters accuse the authorities of corruption and neglect.
President Vucic's rally
Students are demanding the disclosure of contracts related to the station's renovation, punishment for those responsible for attacks on demonstrators, and a 20 percent increase in higher education spending. The government assures that it has fulfilled or will fulfill these demands, but protesters claim none have been fully realized.
In Sremska Mitrovica, President Vucic gathered several thousand of his supporters. According to Serbian media, some participants were bused in from various regions of Serbia and the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The president warned that the protests are an attempt at a "color revolution" supported by foreign entities, aimed at undermining Serbia.
