Study at UNIRSM in the blockade from Kraljevo, they assessed that the criticism was against the MP Jelena Pavlović, who spoke at the gathering "Everything can be seen on Vidovdan" in Kraljevo, was welcome, but that some of them may have been exaggerated.
They also noted that Pavlović is an independent member of parliament, but also a lawyer in proceedings against students, and that her speech does not represent a violation of the principles of the student movement.
"Criticisms are always welcome, they can only improve our further actions, there are a lot of justified ones, some may be excessive, but we will look at everything," the students said, and N1 writes.
Referring to her previous political involvement in the party "We, Strength of the People", the students reminded that Pavlović is not active in that group of citizens, and that she is a lawyer in many proceedings against students.
"There was a proposal from colleagues who thought that she was an adequate speaker at the Vidovdan rally, in accordance with the sentiment of the same, as well as the fact that she is a lawyer in many proceedings in which she defends our colleagues and her previous assistance in the work of the movement from the point of view of a lawyer and an independent representative. The engagement was considered, but it should be taken into account the fact that she has not been active in the aforementioned group of citizens for almost two years, as well as that she is boycotting the work of the National Assembly in support of the student movement," the students said in blockade.
Responding to the criticism of the retired professor of the Faculty of Political Sciences, Čedomir Čupić, who said that he believed that Jelena Pavlović's speech violated the principle that the students adhered to, and that they thus enabled the opposition to speak at the gatherings, the students replied that no principle was violated.
"It should therefore be taken into account that she is an independent deputy, who is not a member of any party, so that changes the situation. The principle is not violated, that one of the current high-ranking officials of political parties does not speak at our protest, but we should also take into account the fact that party members, sometimes former and sometimes current, also spoke at earlier meetings and protests, as well as that many of them also provided support to the student movement in other ways, by participating in assemblies, through legal assistance, logistics and for that we thank them. Also, we have never advocated the abolition of multipartyism and democracy", concluded the students in the blockade.
Reactions to Jelena Pavlović's speech
Pavlović was one of the speakers during the student rally in Kraljevo, which caused the condemnation of part of the public and one opposition actor.
Co-president of the Green-Left Front (ZLF) Radomir Lazović stated that it was a mistake that Pavlović spoke at the student protest.
"She doesn't need to speak and she doesn't need to ask anything," said Lazović.
Retired university professor Čedomir Čupić told N1 that Jelena Pavlović's speech surprised him. Čupić said that he had to warn that the students had violated one of their principles, and that was the one they made themselves - that no one who is part of a government, that is, neither from the opposition nor from a position, can speak.
"Now I'm asking if we should expect that someone will appear again at a future gathering or if it is a slow approach to the opposition," he said.
Rade Veljanovski, another retired university professor, told N1 that he was surprised by the appearance of Jelena Pavlović on stage in Kraljevo.
"It stems from that 'catch-all' strategy, i.e. 'let's catch everything' strategy. I think it's a wrong strategy and that it is so supported in society because we think from one day to the next. We don't have a real strategy on the opposition side of what to do... What I think about the student movement, I don't like at the moment that I see that it is succumbing a little to that populism, the national narrative, and if someone thinks that they will defeat Vučić with such a narrative, they are very wrong," he pointed out. Veljanovski.
Political scientist Boban Stojanović also told N1 that Jelena Pavlović's appearance in Kraljevo on Sunday was a mistake.
"Because the student movement is authentic and should not count on the support of current politicians," Stojanović said.
People's deputy Jelena Pavlović, regarding these criticisms, said that this is "irrefutable proof that your problem is the students, not me."
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