Six months after the last big one protest in Belgrade, held on June 28, students in lockdown of Belgrade faculties announce a new action.
This time, as they point out, there will be no classic protest. Instead, in multiple locations in the Belgrade, but also throughout Serbia, the collection of citizens' signatures for the announcement will be organized extraordinary parliamentary elections.
The students state that it is a matter of preparation for possible extraordinary elections, and by collecting signatures they want to assess how much support they have among the citizens.
No protests or programs
According to the students, the action scheduled for December 28 is not a protest, but an opportunity to connect directly with citizens.
There will be no program, speeches, or official addresses on that day. The main idea, according to the students, is networking and talking with citizens.
As one of the students of the University of Belgrade told "Vreme", this will not only be a collection of signatures, but the action will serve to establish direct contacts and connect.
"This action is the beginning of our phase of struggle in which we are focused on preparing for the elections where we involve the wider masses in preparing for the elections whenever they are called," the student said.
As he explains, the signatures have no legal weight, they will not be certified by a notary, but, as he adds, they will serve as an indicator that not only students want elections, but that the elections are a solution to the general popular revolt and a step towards the fulfillment of student demands.
"We want to show that this is not only the wish of the students, but with the amount of signatures we will show that the wider citizens want it. The contacts that people will leave, of course with their consent, will serve as the formal start of our campaign."
In addition to collecting signatures, students will also organize a bazaar on Student Square in Belgrade in order to collect donations for the next activities.
Besides the bazaar visitors will be able to buy certain items, there will also be humanitarian activities and the distribution of New Year's packages to children.
Where will the signatures be collected and what will be done with them?
Students point out that signatures will be collected at several locations in Belgrade, but also in other cities of Serbia. All locations are currently unknown and will be announced later.
"According to the capacities, the stands will be set up at different times. In some places, the stands will be mobile. Depending on the cities and demographics, the hourly rates and locations will be different, and busy places will be covered," explains the "Vremena" interlocutor.
The point of the action is connecting with citizens. The idea is to show how much support students have.
Door-to-door student
The students remind us of the "Student in every village" action, in which they visit municipalities throughout Serbia, go door to door and talk to citizens.
The interlocutor of "Vremen" says that the action is going well, that people generally react nicely when students knock on their doors, but that there were also situations where some did not want to open the door and talk to them. Such situations are rare, he adds.
Milivojević: DS supports the student request
The president of the Democratic Party (DS), Srđan Milivojević, told FoNet that on December 28, all MPs of that party will support the students' request to call extraordinary parliamentary elections and call on all other colleagues from the opposition to do the same, because a referendum atmosphere against the government must be created.
"In the 90s, we led the fight against the regime, and now we are leading the support for students and we have no fear or anxiety about our political fate," said Milivojević.
Milivojević believes that the students are the political force that has the greatest support from the citizens and the greatest chance of defeating Aleksandar Vučić, and that the DS's role is to help create the referendum atmosphere.
"We believe that the task is to create a referendum atmosphere together. Now, whether someone will accept that support or not, that is not a relevant question," stated Milivojević, adding that, "when the war starts, no one asks who brings food to the army or clothes it."
Source: Vreme/Nova/FoNet
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