A large rally was held by protesting students in Serbia last night. It started at noon and will last until midnight. Thousands gathered in the southwestern city of Novi Pazar, NOVA reported, citing BTA.
Many of the dissatisfied arrived for the event on foot or by bicycle - something that has become a trademark of the protests.
"I wish I was a student now. If I ever regretted not being one - it is today. Being a student in these times is a privilege. They are doing something that has not happened in the country for 40 years. "They clearly showed us how much smarter they are than us, even though we are the older ones," said Rifet Rifatovic.
“I am here today with my university colleagues to support the students, to welcome our dear guests from all over Serbia. We are all on the same path with the same goal, to make universities free communities and to make Serbia a progressive and free state“, explained Ahmedin Lekpek, a lecturer at the University of Novi Pazar.
“We want the system to change. It is not functioning as a whole, the institutions are not working. Changes are needed. This oppression of the people and the entire state because of a few fools cannot be tolerated any longer. I expect changes as soon as possible”, said Marko Mosilkovic, a protester from the town of Brus.
Dissatisfaction with Vucic's rule is growing, according to recent public opinion polls. One of the reasons is the tragedy at the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people. According to sociologists, the decline in his popularity accelerated last summer. At that time, a plan was presented for foreign companies to develop lithium deposits in Serbia.
For his part, President Vučić asked the institutions to restore order and peace in the country after more than 5 months of protests, BTA correspondent in Belgrade Teodora Enčeva reported.
A large event was held in Belgrade in support of President Aleksandar Vučić. This was the culmination of the three-day rally under the slogan "We do not give Serbia!". It was organized by Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party and announced as a rally to oppose the student protests.
In his speech, Vučić described the protesting students as people who were against violence," and then they themselves committed violence every day. When he took the stage, torches were lit in front of her.
Vučić made five demands, addressing “mainly to prosecutors to initiate appropriate procedures within their powers and to take all other measures provided for by law to establish peace and order in the country”.
According to Vučić, the first demand is related to the national Serbian television as an institution, part of national security, which, according to the Serbian president, “must be returned to the citizens, as it was one of the key participants in the “Color Revolution”.
The second demand is to establish the legal responsibility of all persons involved in vandalism and attacks on citizens during their peaceful assemblies in Serbia, and in particular to identify and punish the perpetrators, instigators and aides of “the brutal attacks on peacefully assembled citizens in Niš on March 21, 2025 ", Vucic said, referring to the protests against a meeting of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in the city, when the mayor of Nis and other officials and party activists were pelted with eggs.
“The third demand is to provide the opportunity for every student and pupil who wants to attend lectures and school to do so,” Vucic said.
He added that the fourth demand is to reveal the perpetrators, instigators and helpers of attacks on vital state institutions and facilities and to prevent similar actions from being carried out in the future.
The fifth demand, according to Vucic, is “to prevent any activity that arbitrarily and illegally paralyzes economic activity and prevents citizens from carrying out their daily activities in a normal manner”.
The Serbian president addressed his supporters in front of the People's A rally in Belgrade with words of gratitude and announced that the crowd was over 145,000.
“Aco, Serb” and “Victory!”, chanted the people in front of the Serbian parliament in his support.
Vučić said that the country needs new energy and a clear plan for the future until 2035, which is why a new people's movement has been launched. “We need new energy and strength. We have many wonderful people in all parties. But we need a new plan, and that is why this movement is being created, that is why we are starting with educated people to build a movement, but a movement of the people. Every worker, farmer, housewife, honest person who fights for their country is welcome. That is why you are all welcome”, said the Serbian head of state, who launched the creation of the people's movement in the midst of protests.
Vučić stressed that the new formation should remind of the most important values of Serbian society and start a conversation about the legacy that future generations will receive.
The center of Belgrade was filled with Serbian folk songs from different regions of Serbia throughout the day. Food, drinks and entertainment were offered in specially built tents. The rally participants were guarded by police and protected by metal fences. Vučić's supporters visited a stand where they could get information and sign a membership form for the people's movement, as well as vote for one of seven ideas for the movement's name or make their own suggestion.
After Vučić's speech, fireworks lit up the sky over the Serbian capital.