A few hundred opposition activists gathered at Republic Square in Belgrade on October 6 to stage a protest under the name “For free and fair elections — Defend freedom”. The protest was organised by the opposition Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) formed by former ombudsman and presidential candidate Sasa Jankovic earlier this year, and took place ahead of the Belgrade elections in spring 2018.
The PSG is seen as a new wave of opposition as it was formed in direct response to President Aleksandar Vucic’s growing power and the weakening of the Democratic Party (DS) and other opposition movements once able to oversee and criticise the government. However, bad weather and disillusionment with the opposition on the part of many Serbs resulted in low turnout on October 6.
The protest was intended to send a message to all citizens to raise their voices and oppose the government ahead of the Belgrade local elections.
Power in Belgrade is seen as the backbone of any government and a useful bellwether for what will follow across the country. The current government, led by Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), is doing its very best not to lose the capital, for example by rebuilding roads throughout the city, being constantly present in the media, criticising the opposition, and reminding citizens about corruption under the rival DS.
At the rally, the PSG called for free and fair elections in Belgrade, requesting clear electoral lists, legitimate composition of the City Election Commission, the same treatment for the opposition and the ruling party in the media, the abolition of public resource abuse and monitoring by domestic and international observers.
A day that never came
The protest was organised a day after the 17th anniversary of October 5, 2001, when hundreds of thousands of Serbian citizens, supported by the police and military, managed to oust the autocratic regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
In a reference to the events of 2001, PSG called the demonstration “Free citizens have started the liberation of Belgrade”.
The protest started with the song “This is the country for us”, a line from the song ‘Zemlja’ by prominent rock band Ekatarina Velika-EKV (Catherine the Great) which says: “This is the country for us, this is the country for all our kids… Look at me, look at me with the eyes of a child….”
But while October 5 is an important day for most Serbs, it is also seen as a disappointment, since the peaceful revolution that started on October 5, 2001 ended for many in 2003 when the country’s first democratic prime minister Zoran Djindjic was killed. This was followed by the return to power of some figures that had held office under Milosevic — first Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dacic in coalition with Djindjic’s DS and later Aleksandar Vucic at the head of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Many Serbs say that “October 6 has never come”, while the more optimistic add: “yet”.
The Police and Military Workers Unions also held a protest around the same date, gathering in downtown Belgrade on September 7 under the slogan “Give us the state back”.
The protesters requested the resignation of the ministers of defence and interior affairs, Aleksandar Vulin and Nebojsa Stefanovic, as well as of all who serve the interests of the ruling SNS instead of the country and the people, according to regional broadcaster N1.
The protest was held in front of the presidency and was attended by about 1,000 people, including members of a teachers union and the informal anti-government group ‘Against Dictatorship’.
Protesters walked through Belgrade’s central streets sending a message that the government has taken all rights from its citizens and tries to commit “social, financial and moral ghettoisation”.
Official dismissal
However, Stefanovic dismissed the protest by policemen and workers, saying it didn’t propose any solution, N1 reported on October 7.
The protests opened up speculation that yet another snap general election could be held together with the Belgrade election. However, this was denied by Minister of Telecommunication, Tourism and Trade Rasim Ljajic.
“I do not see a need, we had a lot of elections, we need a period of stability, continuation of reforms, and often the election circus stops reforms being completed,” Ljajic said on October 8, underlining that there had been no talk about either the Belgrade vote or a general election within the ruling coalition, N1 reported.
Serbia held regular presidential elections in April 2017. Previously, the country held snap elections in 2016 as well as in 2014. The SNS won in both, while Vucic won the presidential election in the first round in April. Neither Jankovic nor any other challenger managed to make significant inroads in voter support.