Vucic on protests in Serbia: "There will be no revolution, power will change through elections"
The President of Serbia stated that the protests in the country will not lead to a change of power through violence. He called the demonstrations riots and supported the actions of the police.
Photo: European People's Party, CC BY 2.0
Mass protests against the current government of Aleksandar Vucic continue in Belgrade and other Serbian cities.
The opposition claims that around one million people have taken to the streets, while the police report no more than 107,000 protesters. The demonstration has become the largest in modern Serbian history.
In an emergency televised address, President Vucic stated that a "color revolution" will not take place in the country.
According to him, Serbian citizens seek change but should achieve it through elections rather than violent means.
Vucic said that resignation is not in his plans, and law enforcement is acting within the law.
Particular attention was drawn to tractors that surrounded the protest camp. The opposition believes that farmers arrived to support the demonstrators, but later the machinery was damaged—tires were punctured, and windows were shattered.
Vucic hinted that the tractors were used to prevent bloodshed by restricting the movement of protesters.
Additionally, the Serbian president stated that there are "no poor people among the protesters, only wealthy citizens," and accused the opposition of organizing "protest tourism."
He also noted that he is under pressure from the West but has no intention of changing his stance.
Despite the authorities' statements, the situation remains tense. Twenty-two people have been arrested, and dozens have been injured. The government threatens to disperse the demonstrations if they continue.
Reminder: The student-initiated protests have been ongoing since November 2024, following a tragedy at the Novi Sad train station, where 15 people died after a canopy collapsed.