Under the title "Dangerous fifteen minutes", the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes that "mass protests threaten the system of rule of President Vučić". But also that the question is where, if students distance themselves from the political opposition
Journalist Michael Martens, a good expert on the Balkans, in an article for the respected "Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung" assesses that Vucic is "facing the biggest challenge" since coming to power in 2012 when his SNS began to take over the state, reports Deutsche Welle.
Today's protests, despite the differences in details, are reminiscent of the "popular uprising" that overthrew Slobodan Milošević in 2000, Martens writes.
The text reminds us that the protests started after the deadly collapse of the canopy in Novi Sad, and that the authorities' initial claim that the canopy had not been renovated turned out to be a "lie".
Since then, Martens writes, a quarter of an hour of silence has been held regularly throughout Serbia at 11:52 – the hour and minute when the canopy fell.
"Those politically significant fifteen minutes are increasingly seen as a threat to the government, especially as they are linked to mass demonstrations that began in universities but are now transcending the academic milieu."
The Frankfurt newspaper reminds that the central demand of the protest is the publication of complete documentation on the reconstruction of the Railway Station in Novi Sad, which, as the oppositionists are convinced, will prove that SNS is at the center of corruption.
"Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, aide to President Vučić, announced on Sunday that the request will be fulfilled." "But the Government promised that earlier and did not fulfill it," writes Martens.
Describing "counter-rally" in Jagodina, the journalist notes that critics of the authorities claim that only forced people, employees of public companies and social cases were found there.
"Nevertheless, Vučić is still supported by a part of society," writes Martens. "These are people who are somewhat satisfied with the economic development and who do not mind or even enjoy the increasingly strong nationalist tone of the government - there are such people in Serbia, especially in the older generation."
It is unclear, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" continues, whether and how the political energy of the protest will be translated into permanent party-relevant opposition.
"Students are consciously staying away from all opposition parties for now." They are organized at every faculty according to the principle of basic democracy with enviable discipline," writes Martens.
"But if the protests do not lead to the downfall of the government like on October 5, 2000, it remains open how the discontent will consolidate and become parliamentary effective."
The position of many demonstrators is added that the space for party engagement has been abolished in Serbia because the SNS controls the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media, election commissions, the judiciary...
"However, if the parliamentary option is rejected as an instrument of political change, then only a popular revolt remains - and Vučić showed not only with a counter rally that he will not hand over power without a fight," says Martens.
It is reminiscent of Vučić's threat to the "Cobras", a special unit of the police. This shows, writes Martens, the differences compared to Milosevic.
"In the end, the security forces turned their backs on the then Serbian ruler. In today's Serbia, this is not the case for now. Also, compared to Milosevic's Serbia, which was economically exhausted and isolated by sanctions, today that Balkan country stands somewhat solidly, and unemployment is low."
That is why, writes Martens, the coming weeks in Serbia will be exciting. "The country is no longer the same as before the accident in Novi Sad. But it has not yet been decided whether the protests will permanently shake Vučić's system of government."
The President of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Dzemailj Redza, claims that the deputies of the Serbian List "tried to hide" that they had signed the oath
"Our kitchen for spreading hatred and lies is in this building above us, on this same RTS that still spreads lies and hatred today. My generation accepted those lies, it believed that we were doing the right thing and that we were right and the others were evil. And those others thought the same for themselves, and then the wheel of evil started which cannot be stopped and continues to this day for many", said Goran Samardžić, a war veteran, who was the same age as the students when he was in He also became a war invalid in Sarajevo
In order to get out of the political impasse and divisions in society, Serbia should step up its efforts in the fight against corruption, advance reforms of the rule of law, including the election of the REM Council through a transparent and comprehensive process, stated EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
It is particularly worrying that media workers in RTS are denied freedom of movement and the performance of professional journalistic tasks, and disturbing threats have been sent to them, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
There are no more wet roads, they should only be expected in the south and southeast, where short-term showers are still possible.
Anyone who condemns the regime's targeting of people from the media, the non-governmental sector, the opposition and universities, must not agree to this targeting of RTS editors and journalists either.
The government of Đur Mazut is "counter-revolutionary", focused on retaliation and state and street violence against opponents of the regime
Depriving Dejan Ilić, an intellectual with an impeccable life and work biography, of his freedom, without the slightest meaningful reason, is just one of the brutal indicators that the regime has turned against its own citizens and is entering a phase of terror
Vučić and Šešelj: Where I stopped, you continue
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