Serbia: Protests in Belgrade May 31

Event

Two separate anti-governmental protests are taking place in the capital Belgrade on Wednesday, May 31. The two protests are being organized Serbian opposition parties and both are taking place in front of the Parliament building. The first protest “Against the Dictatorship” is starting at 10:00 (local time) while the second one will start at 18:00 and be led by electoral candidate Sasa Jankovic. The two protests target President-Elect Aleksandar Vucic, who won the April 2 election and is set to be sworn in on Wednesday. Further protests are possible in the coming days.

Context

“Against the Dictatorship” is the informal name taken by planners of massive protests held in the country in April. Protests against Vucic have occurred regularly since the election. Initially, most of the demonstrators were youths protesting against media control by the state and irregularities reported during the elections, including voter intimidation. Older people began joining in on April 4 as the protest grievances widened to include government corruption and censorship, among other issues. There have been no particular signs of any one party influencing the protests despite clear support from the opposition.

Vucic, a former ultranationalist who rebranded himself as a reformer during his time as prime minister, was heavily favored to win the presidential elections. He has said he wants to lead Serbia toward EU membership while also strengthening ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Since assuming the office of prime minister in 2014, Vucic has enjoyed what some have characterized as authoritarian control over the Serbian government, which will only be strengthened by his electoral victory and the dominance of his political party - the Serbian Progressive Party - in parliament. Historically a ceremonial office, Vucic is expected to transform the presidency into a more powerful position.

Advice

Individuals in Serbia are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution and to keep abreast of the sociopolitical climate in the country.