Latest news with #SerbianProgressiveParty
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbian president says early elections possible within 18 months
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Friday showed openness to holding early elections for the first time since a student movement launched powerful protests against the government six months ago. "Parliamentary elections can take place within a year and a half if the relevant institutions take the necessary steps," Vučić told journalists on the sidelines of a European Political Community summit in the Albanian capital Tirana. The current Serbian parliament is scheduled to remain in office until early 2028. Students in Serbia have been protesting against the government for around six months following the collapse of a newly renovated railway station canopy in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Protesters accuse the government of corruption and mismanagement of state institutions, which are largely under Vučić's control, and are demanding comprehensive reforms to establish democratic and constitutional conditions. The protests have since been joined by large sections of the population and have featured university occupations and road blockades. At the beginning of May, the student movement called for the first time for early elections, which would have to be scheduled by Vučić. However, the president said in Tirana that no one had yet approached "the relevant institutions" with demands for new elections. According to observers, the protest movement has changed the political landscape in Serbia, which was previously dominated by Vučić. The students are calling on the previously fragmented and divided opposition to form a united front against the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) party and its partners. Experts believe a joint list with the support of the student movement would stand a good chance of winning the election.
MTV Lebanon
13-04-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Serbian president holds nationalist rally to counter student demos
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic declared the launch of a new political movement on Saturday as he rallied nationalist supporters in Belgrade to push back against months of protests against him. Serbia has been gripped by a wave of protests since November, when 16 people died in the collapse of the newly renovated rail station in the city of Novi Sad -- a tragedy widely blamed on corruption and poor oversight. Hundreds of thousands have marched for months against corruption and mismanagement, culminating in the biggest protests in decades last month. Vucic claims the student-led protests are threatening the Balkan nation's peace and stability, accusing the protesters of being paid by "foreign intelligence agencies". Addressing the crowd late on Saturday evening, Vucic dismissed the protest movement as "an attack from overseas, because certain foreign powers cannot bear to see a free, independent and sovereign Serbia". He announced the creation of his new political movement "to bring new energy" to the country. "Each worker, each farmer is welcome; each person who earns an honest living, and fights for his children and his country, is welcome," he told the crowd. At least 55,000 people attended the rally, the Public Assembly Archive -- a group that monitors crowd sizes -- said on X. The figure was much lower than the group's estimate of between 275,000 and 325,000 people who took to the streets of Belgrade on March 15, in a student-led protest which was the biggest ever recorded in Serbia. On Saturday, Vucic said that his movement also aimed "to dislodge arrogant political officials who refuse to speak to the people". The event started on Friday with Vucic and ministers joining supporters to carry a 200-metre-long (more than 650-foot) Serbian flag, the "largest in history", according to the president. 'Protecting Serbia' On Saturday afternoon, thousands of people, mostly pensioners with some dressed in traditional costumes, strolled past stands set up in central Belgrade. Stalls offered free grilled meat, sausages, wine and local fruit brandy, as well as traditional peasant shoes or Serbia's national hat, the sajkaca. A special appearance came on Saturday from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is wanted by central authorities in his country after being convicted of flouting the constitution. Speaking from the stage, Dodik told the crowd that Vucic "is today the only man who can hold together a strong and powerful Serbia, both in domestic and foreign policy... especially in these very unstable times". Vucic also received a mark of support from Hungary's nationalist premier Viktor Orban. He said in a video message that "foreign powers want to tell Serbs how to live". Several municipalities organised transport for the president's supporters. The latter were also invited by text messages to "come on time to jointly show strong support" for Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party. "We came to support Vucic, to protect our Serbia. This movement should bring change", Milic Mara, a pensioner from Belgrade, told AFP.
Times of Oman
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Serbia's president calls for 'order' after student protests
Belgrade: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday called for "order and peace" to be restored to the Balkan country, which has been rocked by months of large anti-corruption protests. Addressing a crowd of thousands of right-wing and nationalist supporters in Belgrade, Vucic said the student-led protesters had "inflicted huge evil on Serbia in the past five months." The right-wing populist also repeated claims that the movement to oust him was being led by unnamed foreign actors. "The attack came from abroad," Vucic told the crowd in the Serbian capital, many of whom were bussed in from across Serbia, as well as neighboring Kosovo and Bosnia. "We will not allow those from outside and inside Serbia to destroy our state," he said. Why was the nationalist rally being held? Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the rally through a video message, telling the crowd that "foreign powers want to tell Serbs how to live." Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, who is wanted by Bosnia's authorities over his separatist policies, also spoke to the crowd. He said that Vucic "is today the only man who can hold together a strong and powerful Serbia, both in domestic and foreign policy... especially in these very unstable times." The rally was called to counter recent massive demonstrations that have swept the country since November, when a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. The accident has been widely blamed on corruption and shoddy renovation works. On March 15, between 275,000 and 325,000 people turned out in Belgrade in one of the largest protests in Serbia's history. What else did Vucic say during the rally? Vucic has accused the protesters of destabilising the country and of receiving payments from "foreign intelligence agencies." During his speech on Saturday evening, the Serbian president said "certain foreign powers cannot bear to see a free, independent and sovereign Serbia." Vucic also announced a new political movement that he said would "bring new energy" to the Balkan nation. "Each worker, each farmer is welcome; each person who earns an honest living, and fights for his children and his country, is welcome," he said. Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) have been in power for more than 10 years. Critics have accused Vucic and the SNS of curbing democratic freedoms in the country, which harbours ambitions of joining the European Union.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands gather at pro-government rally in Serbia
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Thousands from towns in Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia arrived by buses on Saturday to attend a rally in Belgrade organised in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, whose grip on power has been threatened by months of anti-corruption protests. Main streets were blocked for traffic, and stands with fast food and drinks were put up in front of the parliament. The rally is seen as Vucic's response to the big anti-government rally on March 15, when more than 100,000 people attended the biggest protest in decades. Serbia has seen months of anti-government rallies after 16 deaths from a railway station roof collapse triggered accusations of widespread corruption and negligence. The protests have swelled to include students, teachers and farmers in a major challenge to Vucic, a populist in power for 12 years as prime minister or president. "The coloured revolution is over," Vucic told throngs of his supporters in front of the parliament. "They can walk as much as they wish, but nothing will come out of that." The rally was meant also to promote a new movement led by Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) which is expected to include other parties from the ruling coalition that is yet to be officially inaugurated. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the rally via video link. "Serbian patriots can count on Hungarian patriots," Orban said. Tensions between Vucic's supporters and anti-government protesters ran high on Saturday. In Novi Pazar, which is the administrative centre of Serbia's Muslim majority region, anti-government activists tried to prevent buses with Vucic's supporters from leaving the town. In Belgrade, protesters tried to prevent buses from reaching the city centre and threw eggs at them, triggering police intervention.
Reuters
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Thousands gather at pro-government rally in Serbia
BELGRADE, April 12 (Reuters) - Thousands from towns in Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia arrived by buses on Saturday to attend a rally in Belgrade organised in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, whose grip on power has been threatened by months of anti-corruption protests. Main streets were blocked for traffic, and stands with fast food and drinks were put up in front of the parliament. The rally is seen as Vucic's response to the big anti-government rally on March 15, when more than 100,000 people attended the biggest protest in decades. Serbia has seen months of anti-government rallies after 16 deaths from a railway station roof collapse triggered accusations of widespread corruption and negligence. The protests have swelled to include students, teachers and farmers in a major challenge to Vucic, a populist in power for 12 years as prime minister or president. "The coloured revolution is over," Vucic told throngs of his supporters in front of the parliament. "They can walk as much as they wish, but nothing will come out of that." The rally was meant also to promote a new movement led by Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) which is expected to include other parties from the ruling coalition that is yet to be officially inaugurated. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the rally via video link. "Serbian patriots can count on Hungarian patriots," Orban said. Tensions between Vucic's supporters and anti-government protesters ran high on Saturday. In Novi Pazar, which is the administrative centre of Serbia's Muslim majority region, anti-government activists tried to prevent buses with Vucic's supporters from leaving the town. In Belgrade, protesters tried to prevent buses from reaching the city centre and threw eggs at them, triggering police intervention.
