Serbia’s Political Crisis Deepens: Protesters and Supporters Clash in Rallies
Serbia is facing a major political showdown as anti-government protesters and fans of President Aleksandar Vucic take to the streets in rival rallies. This ongoing crisis has gripped the Balkan nation for over 10 months, starting with a tragic railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people.
On Saturday, both sides hit the roads in full force. The student-led protests began demanding justice for the victims and a probe into corruption tied to the disaster. But things have heated up, with crowds now calling for Vucic’s resignation from power.
Vucic, the leader of the right-wing Serbian Progressive Party, has fired back by labeling the protesters as terrorists. He’s rallied his supporters to stage counter-demonstrations, all to keep his grip on Serbia’s politics tight.
Things stayed mostly calm on Saturday, but tensions flared in Belgrade. Riot police pushed back anti-government crowds as Vucic showed up to cheer on his backers. No big incidents happened, though some quick scuffles broke out.
Just days earlier, thousands packed Belgrade’s streets to slam the government. One standout voice was Nikolina Sindjelic, a student who got arrested during August protests. Standing outside a special police unit’s headquarters, she shared her story: "They beat us because they are afraid of us. They have hit us and they will hit us because they know it is all over for them."
The crackdown has gotten tougher lately. Protesters accuse police of brutal force, and reports say over 100 university professors lost their jobs, replaced by Vucic loyalists. This has only fueled the anger in Serbia’s anti-government protests.
Even international eyes are on the chaos. On September 8, during a trip to Austria, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos weighed in: "We have a problem in Belgrade. The people have the right to protest. The severe violence on the streets of Serbia, the many acts of vandalism, must stop. We expect the police to act appropriately and respect fundamental rights."
As Serbia’s political crisis rages on, these parallel rallies highlight the deep divide. Will Vucic hold on, or will the protesters force real change? The nation watches closely.
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