Students in demonstrations on Belgrade’s Slavija Square have declared the government in Serbia illegitimate.
“There is no longer a dilemma, it is time to take matters into our own hands. What we have felt for years as a stricture and a silent injustice has now taken on a clear face, the face of arrogance, corruption, betrayal, and irresponsibility. Since November 1, 2024, every new day in Serbia has been worse than the previous one. The tragedy at the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad is no coincidence, it is the result of years of negligence, the plundering of party affiliation, and money laundering. We will not tolerate this any longer,” said the student who addressed the crowd.
She also stated that for the past 13 years, Serbian citizens have “witnessed the collapse of fundamental institutions” as factories have been closed and agriculture has been “destroyed by disastrous policies.”
“For the last 13 years, we have witnessed the collapse of all the fundamental institutions of this country. Factories have been closed or sold off to foreigners for little money. Domestic agriculture and livestock have been brutally destroyed by the disastrous policies of incompetent party cadres. Let’s call it: systemic corruption. Doesn’t the following represent nothing less than high treason to the people. The destruction of the domestic economy along with economic stability, the destruction of domestic enterprises, the destruction of domestic agriculture, the betrayal of Kosovo through unconstitutional agreements,” she said.
The speaker added that corruption is “the essence of the ruling regime,” and that the question is when the tragedy in Novi Sad will be repeated.
“Corruption is not an individual act, but the essence of the entire regime. It is a question of the day when the tragedy in Novi Sad will be repeated somewhere else. The responsibility for this does not lie with nature, but with the system. Despite everything, the students rose up without political leaders, without sponsors and political background, but with the clear goal of returning the state to the hands of the people,” the speaker said, declaring the government illegitimate.
“Because of all the above, with full faith that our voice contains the voice of our ancestors, we demand the calling of early and fair parliamentary elections. Early parliamentary elections are clearly a means to get out of the crisis caused by the authorities. That is why today, June 28, 2025, we declare the current government illegitimate.”
She added that the task now is to “restore the state,” and for that, a “social agreement” is needed, the basic point of which will be the fulfillment of the students’ demands.
“Let this day go down in history for the umpteenth time when Serbia did not remain silent in the face of foreign aggressors and domestic traitors. We have a task ahead of us to restore the state, and for that we need a change in the system, that is why we propose a social agreement. The basic points must be the fulfillment of the students’ demands, declaring plenums legal and respecting the autonomy of universities, free and fair elections, revising the voter lists, reforming the media…”, the student told those gathered at Slavija.
On the other hand, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said tonight that “the students won”, referring to those camping in Pionirski Park, and that “the blockaders lost”.
Vučić said on Instagram, where he met with “students who want to study”, that they now understand “that they have finally won, that everything is returning to normal” and that they will be heading to universities and taking exams from Monday.
“Not only because today the blockaders had three times fewer (people) than on March 15, but because they are convinced of their fight, right, truth and their ideals”, he said.
He also stated that he did not know whether there would be violence tonight, but added that it did not depend on the authorities and “students who want to study”, Beta writes.
