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Serbian students issue ultimatum: elections or civil disobedience By Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade June 26, 2025 ~4 minutes _____ A coalition of student protesters in Serbia has issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding snap parliamentary elections or warning of widespread civil disobedience. The ultimatum comes ahead of a major demonstration scheduled for Saturday in Belgrade, coinciding with Vidovdan, a national holiday of deep historical resonance. In an open letter circulated on social media on June 25, the student group called on the government to submit a formal proposal to the president to dissolve parliament and call early elections by June 28. The students claim that the current mandate “no longer reflects the political reality” in Serbia and accuse the ruling coalition of lacking the capacity to address what they describe as the country’s most severe socio-political crisis in decades. “If elections are not announced by 21:00 on June 28, citizens will be ready to take all existing measures of civil disobedience,” the group warned. The students also demanded that authorities revoke the permit for a counter-protest encampment in Pionirski Park in central Belgrade, where a group calling themselves “students who want to learn” has been camped out for nearly three months. The student protesters allege the counter-camp was established with government support to undermine their movement. Since late November, the protest movement has grown in scope and intensity. It began following a tragic incident at the Novi Sad Railway Station, where the collapse of a concrete canopy roof claimed 16 lives. The event ignited broader dissatisfaction over governance, transparency and corruption. Student-led blockades have since shuttered most state universities, and hundreds of professors remain without pay after refusing to hold classes during the protest period. According to academic sources, many faculty members have received only a fraction—around one-eighth—of their salaries during the shutdown. The government has yet to formally respond to the students' demands. Prime Minister Đuro Macut and his cabinet have been urged by the protesters to request the Ministry of the Interior ban the rival gathering by Saturday evening, citing Serbia’s Law on Public Gatherings. The planned June 28 rally is expected to draw large crowds. The date, Vidovdan, marks the anniversary of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo and has often coincided with pivotal political events in Serbia’s modern history. -- http:www.antic.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SERBIAN NEWS NETWORK" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to senet+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/senet/01a801dbe748%24a8f4aaf0%24fade00d0%24%40gmail.com.
