Almost half a year after the deadly collapse of the canopy at Novi Sad railway station in Serbia, which claimed 16 lives, the country’s political landscape is marked by strategic maneuvering between the government and the student movement. Despite a massive protest in Belgrade on March 15, brought over 300,000 people to the streets demanding criminal and political accountability for the incident, the student demands clash with the government’s political tactics. Bojan Klacar, the executive director of the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), observes that both sides are engaged in a game of patience, waiting for the other to make a strategic error and reassessing the actions needed. The government is reportedly planning to form a new cabinet following the January 28 resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, with the parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic suggesting that if agreement is not reached by April 18, new elections could be called as early as June. President Aleksandar Vucic has also proposed a “Movement for the People and the State” to be officially launched in Belgrade from April 11 to 13 with a festival-like atmosphere. However, the government’s actions are not restricted to political moves, as it is also cracking down on activists, including university professors and students, with salary cuts and arrests among the measures taken. On the protesters’ side, there is a growing call for a transitional government, with some protesting faculties reportedly voting on proposals for such a government. This signal could encourage more radical demands in the protests. Meanwhile, 80 students began a 1,300-kilometer bicycle journey to Strasbourg, seeking allies in Europe and attention from the Council of Europe regarding their fight against corruption and institutional failures. However, it remains to be seen whether this international appeal will directly influence the EU’s stance on Serbia or induce radical positions against the government, especially with the lack of a clear political alternative in the country.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/no-end-to-serbia-s-political-crisis-in-sight/a-72133397?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf