Rallying Support: President Vucic Addresses Belgrade Amid Ongoing Tensions

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic led a rally in Belgrade with around 55,000 supporters, amid ongoing protests that erupted following a tragic incident in Novi Sad. Vucic criticized foreign interference and student-led demonstrations, while he faced backlash over allegations of government corruption and public safety concerns.

Tens of thousands of supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic convened in Belgrade for a rally promoted as the inception of a "Movement for the People and the State" aimed at rescuing the nation from perceived destabilizing forces. According to monitoring organizations, approximately 55,000 people gathered outside the National Assembly, although this number was notably lower compared to massive anti-government protests that took place just weeks earlier.

The backdrop for this rally stems from escalating unrest that began in November after a tragic accident at a railway station in Novi Sad resulted in the death of 15 individuals. Public outrage focused on accusations of corruption and negligence tied to Vucic's Progressive Party. The president’s rally was structured as a counter-response to these ongoing protests, which he characterized as threats to Serbia's national peace. In his address, he also urged prosecutors to take decisive actions to restore order.

Vucic insinuated that the student-led protests were funded by foreign intelligence, without specifying which nations he alluded to. He went further to denounce the national broadcaster, RTS, labeling it a crucial player in what he described as an attempted "colour revolution."

The protests ignited by the Novi Sad incident revealed deeper frustrations within the populace regarding a decade of governance under Vucic, particularly criticism surrounding infrastructure safety issues. Demonstrators utilized the slogan "corruption kills," reflecting their fears over opaque governmental practices that seemed to favor a select group of contractors, thereby endangering public safety.

Despite numerous resignations within his administration and a growing protest movement, Vucic indicated that he intended to remain in his position. In the previous month alone, a remarkable estimated 325,000 protesters flooded the streets of Belgrade, marking the largest demonstration in Serbian history, highlighting the increasing divide between the government and the citizens it governs.