Latest news with #BelgradeUniversity
23-05-2025
- Politics
Thousands brave heavy rain to protest Serbia's crackdown on universities
BELGRADE, Serbia -- Thousands of protesters braved a rainstorm in the Serbian capital on Friday to join a rally against a government crackdown on universities that have played a key role in months-long anti-corruption protests that continue to pressure the Balkan country's populist government. The protesters gathered outside the Serbian government building in downtown Belgrade demanding that the authorities revoke measures brought so far against protesting university professors and deans, and abolish plans to change education laws they say would scrap the autonomy of the state-run universities. University students, backed by their professors, have led massive protests that started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread government corruption that they say fueled negligence and flawed work on the station building renovation. The populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the students and university professors of allegedly working for unspecified Western powers to oust the government and 'destroy' Serbia. Vucic formally wants Serbia to join the EU but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms while boosting ties with China and Russia. Vucic has so far dismissed a student demand for an early election as the way out of a months-long political crisis. Serbia's protesting universities across four main cities on Thursday received support from the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who met with student representatives and said afterwards that 'the autonomy of the universities must be respected.' The government has cut salaries for the protesting professors and threatened to defund state-run faculties where classes have been suspended for six months. Authorities are also reportedly working on a new law that professors say would pave the way for the government to appoint faculty deans, effectively abolishing university autonomy. Vladan Djokic, the head dean of Belgrade University, has been questioned by police and accused of abusing his position. Student protesters, meanwhile, have faced attacks by pro-government loyalists and pressure from police and state security. 'Authorities have shown that they are ready to destroy higher education in Serbia in order to stay in power,' sociology professor Marija Babovic told the crowd. 'Higher education and universities are now more endangered than ever in recent history.' Serbia's protesting students have been seeking accountability for the deaths of 16 people in Novi Sad on Nov. 1 and the respect of the rule of law in Serbia. With their call for justice, the students have garnered huge support, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to their protests and shaking Vucic's tight grip on power.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands brave heavy rain to protest Serbia's crackdown on universities
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of protesters braved a rainstorm in the Serbian capital on Friday to join a rally against a government crackdown on universities that have played a key role in months-long anti-corruption protests that continue to pressure the Balkan country's populist government. The protesters gathered outside the Serbian government building in downtown Belgrade demanding that the authorities revoke measures brought so far against protesting university professors and deans, and abolish plans to change education laws they say would scrap the autonomy of the state-run universities. University students, backed by their professors, have led massive protests that started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread government corruption that they say fueled negligence and flawed work on the station building renovation. The populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the students and university professors of allegedly working for unspecified Western powers to oust the government and 'destroy' Serbia. Vucic formally wants Serbia to join the EU but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms while boosting ties with China and Russia. Vucic has so far dismissed a student demand for an early election as the way out of a months-long political crisis. Serbia's protesting universities across four main cities on Thursday received support from the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who met with student representatives and said afterwards that 'the autonomy of the universities must be respected.' The government has cut salaries for the protesting professors and threatened to defund state-run faculties where classes have been suspended for six months. Authorities are also reportedly working on a new law that professors say would pave the way for the government to appoint faculty deans, effectively abolishing university autonomy. Vladan Djokic, the head dean of Belgrade University, has been questioned by police and accused of abusing his position. Student protesters, meanwhile, have faced attacks by pro-government loyalists and pressure from police and state security. 'Authorities have shown that they are ready to destroy higher education in Serbia in order to stay in power,' sociology professor Marija Babovic told the crowd. 'Higher education and universities are now more endangered than ever in recent history.' Serbia's protesting students have been seeking accountability for the deaths of 16 people in Novi Sad on Nov. 1 and the respect of the rule of law in Serbia. With their call for justice, the students have garnered huge support, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to their protests and shaking Vucic's tight grip on power.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Thousands brave heavy rain to protest Serbia's crackdown on universities
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of protesters braved a rainstorm in the Serbian capital on Friday to join a rally against a government crackdown on universities that have played a key role in months-long anti-corruption protests that continue to pressure the Balkan country's populist government. The protesters gathered outside the Serbian government building in downtown Belgrade demanding that the authorities revoke measures brought so far against protesting university professors and deans, and abolish plans to change education laws they say would scrap the autonomy of the state-run universities. University students, backed by their professors, have led massive protests that started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread government corruption that they say fueled negligence and flawed work on the station building renovation. The populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the students and university professors of allegedly working for unspecified Western powers to oust the government and 'destroy' Serbia. Vucic formally wants Serbia to join the EU but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms while boosting ties with China and Russia. Vucic has so far dismissed a student demand for an early election as the way out of a months-long political crisis. Serbia's protesting universities across four main cities on Thursday received support from the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who met with student representatives and said afterwards that 'the autonomy of the universities must be respected.' The government has cut salaries for the protesting professors and threatened to defund state-run faculties where classes have been suspended for six months. Authorities are also reportedly working on a new law that professors say would pave the way for the government to appoint faculty deans, effectively abolishing university autonomy. Vladan Djokic, the head dean of Belgrade University, has been questioned by police and accused of abusing his position. Student protesters, meanwhile, have faced attacks by pro-government loyalists and pressure from police and state security. 'Authorities have shown that they are ready to destroy higher education in Serbia in order to stay in power,' sociology professor Marija Babovic told the crowd. 'Higher education and universities are now more endangered than ever in recent history.' Serbia's protesting students have been seeking accountability for the deaths of 16 people in Novi Sad on Nov. 1 and the respect of the rule of law in Serbia. With their call for justice, the students have garnered huge support, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to their protests and shaking Vucic's tight grip on power.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Thousands brave heavy rain to protest Serbia's crackdown on universities
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of protesters braved a rainstorm in the Serbian capital on Friday to join a rally against a government crackdown on universities that have played a key role in months-long anti-corruption protests that continue to pressure the Balkan country's populist government. The protesters gathered outside the Serbian government building in downtown Belgrade demanding that the authorities revoke measures brought so far against protesting university professors and deans, and abolish plans to change education laws they say would scrap the autonomy of the state-run universities. University students, backed by their professors, have led massive protests that started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread government corruption that they say fueled negligence and flawed work on the station building renovation. The populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the students and university professors of allegedly working for unspecified Western powers to oust the government and 'destroy' Serbia. Vucic formally wants Serbia to join the EU but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms while boosting ties with China and Russia. Vucic has so far dismissed a student demand for an early election as the way out of a months-long political crisis. Serbia's protesting universities across four main cities on Thursday received support from the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who met with student representatives and said afterwards that 'the autonomy of the universities must be respected.' The government has cut salaries for the protesting professors and threatened to defund state-run faculties where classes have been suspended for six months. Authorities are also reportedly working on a new law that professors say would pave the way for the government to appoint faculty deans, effectively abolishing university autonomy. Vladan Djokic, the head dean of Belgrade University, has been questioned by police and accused of abusing his position. Student protesters, meanwhile, have faced attacks by pro-government loyalists and pressure from police and state security. 'Authorities have shown that they are ready to destroy higher education in Serbia in order to stay in power,' sociology professor Marija Babovic told the crowd. 'Higher education and universities are now more endangered than ever in recent history.' Serbia's protesting students have been seeking accountability for the deaths of 16 people in Novi Sad on Nov. 1 and the respect of the rule of law in Serbia. With their call for justice, the students have garnered huge support, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to their protests and shaking Vucic's tight grip on power.
Al Jazeera
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Serbia's President Vucic taps novice prime minister amid protest pressure
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has nominated a politically inexperienced endocrinologist and university professor as prime minister, amid massive ongoing protests that forced the previous premier to resign. Vucic announced the nomination of 62-year-old Djuro Macut weeks after the resignation of Milos Vucevic was approved by parliament on March 19 amid violence at the protests, which are focused on the president's authoritarian stance and government corruption. Opposition parties were quick to reject the nomination of the Belgrade University lecturer, who had previously backed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). They claimed that Macut would be beholden to directions from Vucic, who is trying to maintain his 12-year grip on power. 'The prime minister-designate can be anyone or nobody as long as Vucic remains the head of the state,' said Pavle Grbovic, head of the Movement of Free Citizens party. 'Knowledge about polycystic ovaries is not a reference for running the government, which requires a completely different kind of expertise,' said Boris Tadic, a former president and head of the opposition Social Democratic Party. However, Macut is unlikely to encounter heavy resistance on his way to becoming prime minister since the SNS, which he will also formally lead, controls parliament. With the government having been run by technocrats since parliament accepted Vucevic's resignation on March 19, Macut must now form a government and present it to the house by April 18. A swift confirmation process could signal political continuity for Vucic to both domestic and international audiences, with European Union accession talks still on the line for Serbia. However, the protests, which have spiralled since the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November that killed 16 people, have not died down, particularly in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The tragedy was attributed to government corruption and mismanagement, leading to a public outcry and demands for accountability. Serbian authorities have occasionally used forceful tactics against protesters, but most demonstrations have proceeded without major incidents or deaths. The protests, which have seen organisers working hard to keep their distance from all political parties, have continued in varying forms. A group of about 80 Serbian university students embarked on a 1,300km (807-mile) journey from Novi Sad to Strasbourg in France on bicycles to draw EU attention to their cause. Macut's nomination is likely to test the mood, however, with the protesters having demanded a transitional government and for Vucic to step down.
