dw.com

Is Serbia on the brink of a general strike?

Sanja Kljajic

7–9 minutes

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"Corruption kills." This is the stark message at the heart of the protests that have been taking place in Serbia for three months and show no signs of abating.

The wave of discontent sparked by the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy last November has seen tens of thousands of Serbian citizens take to the streets daily, demanding political and criminal accountability for the tragedy that claimed 15 lives and seriously injured two others.

The protests are growing by the day. Demonstrations, the obstruction of traffic and tributes to the victims of the incident have become part of daily life across the country.

Students have blocked almost all faculties at the three largest national universities, demanding, among other things, the resignation of the prime minister and the mayor of Novi Sad.

'A turning point'

"I can't imagine us leaving the blockades without seeing our demands met. This is undoubtedly a turning point. It's the beginning of the end," Ana Djuric, a student from Novi Sad, told DW.

Teachers staged a strike in Belgrade on Monday. The bat-shaped sign in the center reads "I can't make it, I'm at the blockade."Image: Filip Stevanovic/Anadolu/picture alliance

Around 5,000 professors and academic staff have joined the students. "Chaos, crime and the rule of ignorance and incompetence — it's unbearable to watch," says Ljubica Oparnica, a professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Novi Sad. She credits the students with restoring her faith that change is possible.

"I am truly fascinated by the way students are working together," she said. "Their solidarity is a fortress that cannot be breached. If we all share the same vision — and here it is clear that we all want a new system, a new and different era — this regime stands no chance."

Support has also poured in from the Serbian diaspora worldwide — from New York to Melbourne — with gatherings in major cities around the world. Even tennis star Novak Djokovic voiced his solidarity with the students at the Australian Open.

Citizens are donating food, private businesses are providing essential supplies, taxi drivers are offering free rides, and farmers have pledged to protect protesters with their tractors.

Protestors face growing pressure

Protection might well be necessary, as students are facing increasing pressure. Pro-government tabloids have labeled them "foreign agents" and published personal information about them.

There are also reports that some parents have been visited by intelligence service agents.

Serbia: Thousands join anti-government protests in Belgrade

Physical attacks on protesters are becoming more frequent. Tension peaked last Thursday when a man drove a car into a crowd during a silent tribute in Belgrade, hitting a law student who was hospitalized with serious injuries.

"We were shaken, but this won't scare us. It will only make us angrier," says Ana Djuric.

Calls for a general strike

The incident has further enraged many citizens, prompting larger protests even in smaller towns across Serbia.

Students see this is an indication that the time is ripe for a general strike. They believe everything must come to a halt for real change to happen. Many have already answered their call.

The Bar Association of Serbia launched a one-week stoppage, while some employees at the state-run electricity company are also preparing to go on strike. According to DW's sources, medical workers and artists in public institutions are also considering joining.

Teachers out in force

Teachers, with the backing of parents, are suspending classes. Thousands of teaching staff took to the streets of Belgrade on Monday, not only to protest low wages and poor work conditions, but also to show their solidarity with the students.

Although the country's four biggest teachers' unions reached an agreement with the Serbian government on salary increases and declared a moratorium on strikes, some schools and teachers have refused to start the second semester.

"Education is not for sale" — teachers staged a demonstration in Belgrade on MondayImage: Filip Stevanovic/Anadolu/picture alliance

"Education cannot thrive in a society plagued by systemic corruption. Education cannot flourish while decision-makers are plagiarists, forgers, usurpers and manipulators," declared Dusan Kokot of the Independent Union of Education Workers of Serbia.

Unlike the four big teachers' unions negotiating with the government, Kokot's union has declared an indefinite work stoppage.

Threat of dismissals

Prime Minister Milos Vucevic warned that inspectors would be sent to schools that go on strike and raised the possibility of dismissals.

"I am not threatening anyone," said Vucevic. "I am merely urging everyone not to play with children and the education system."

Two inspectors have already announced their refusal to comply, citing professional and ethical concerns. In one school, all members of staff signed a declaration, saying that they would resign if any one colleague faced repercussions.

Government on the defensive

As protests and solidarity among various social groups grow, the government faces the most significant political crisis of its 12-year rule.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the protesters of undermining constitutional order.

"Foreign instructors are behind all this, coming from several Western countries. We know this for sure. Some even come from Eastern countries, doing dirty work for Western intelligence networks," he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic proposed what he called an "advisory referendum" on his presidency — a proposal the opposition rejectedImage: Ciaran McCrickard/Avalon/Photoshot/picture alliance

Vucic proposed what he called an "advisory referendum" on his presidency, which would not necessarily be binding for him. The opposition rejected the proposal and instead demanded a transitional government to ensure fair elections. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has dismissed this idea and launched a campaign entitled "I trust Vucic."

What happens next?

"Even for the government, a referendum would be a significant challenge," says political scientist Dusan Spasojevic. He predicts that both sides will stick to informal power struggles.

"It seems that they [the SNS] are preparing for a counter-campaign. There are signs that counter-rallies may begin by the end of the week. I assume this is another mechanism that the Serbian Progressive Party will use to suppress protests," Spasojevic told DW.

Where Serbia goes from here is uncertain.

For Professor Ljubica Oparnica, the answer is clear: "They won't give up easily because they enjoy immense privileges. That's why change seems impossible. But I believe this government will collapse suddenly, like the fallen canopy [at Novi Sad train station]. We'll all be surprised. I think they've reached the end of their strength."

Although Dusan Spasojevic takes a more cautious view, he believes there is no turning back. "If the government finds a way to weaken the student protests, it may temporarily resolve the crisis. But it will surely resurface with full force at the next opportunity," he concludes.

Edited by: Aingeal Flanagan

 

lansinginstitute.org

After the referendum rejection, Vucic will try constitutional changes - Robert Lansing Institute

4–5 minutes

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Following recent events in Belgrade, where student protests erupted to oppose government corruption, nepotism, and other grievances, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic made a notable announcement via Instagram. He invited the opposition to request an advisory referendum to assess public support for his presidency. Citing a survey by the non-governmental organization CRTA, which indicated that over 50% of citizens were against him, Vucic dismissed the findings as foreign influence. In his message, he stated, "Because the CIA and others claim I lack public support, if this data is correct, then it makes no sense for me to remain President." Vucic then urged opposition parties to gather the necessary parliamentary signatures to initiate the referendum. Similarly, Milenko Jovanov, head of the Serbian Progressive Party's parliamentary group, and Ana Brnabic, Speaker of the Serbian Assembly, echoed this call.

The past two months have revealed widespread dissatisfaction with governance in Serbia. The collapse of the Novi Sad train station roof, which resulted in 15 deaths, served as the tipping point. Allegations suggest that the renovation contract with a Chinese company was either mismanaged or entirely unsupervised. This incident sparked protests across Serbia, with recent figures showing over 100,000 participants, many of whom are students from 60 faculties. While authorities in Belgrade have downplayed the protests, offering much smaller participation estimates, Vucic recognizes the power of student-led movements, which have historically instigated political change across the region. In response, the ruling party has begun attempting to manipulate the protests and proposing a referendum to reaffirm Vucic's political authority.

The opposition in Belgrade, however, refused to take Vucic's bait. Within 24 hours, they rejected his referendum proposal and instead called for a transitional government to navigate the crisis. With international support, such a government would establish conditions for free and fair elections—a prospect Vucic swiftly dismissed. Meanwhile, attempts to infiltrate and discredit the protests have been reported. Infiltrators carrying nationalist slogans and symbols, such as the Nazi-inspired "No Surrender" slogan from the Battle of Stalingrad or flags depicting Kosovo as part of Serbia, were seen among demonstrators. Despite the failure of the initial referendum proposal, it is unlikely that Vucic will abandon his efforts to consolidate power.

It seems probable that Vucic will now turn to constitutional reforms to secure his position, following a playbook similar to that of Vladimir Putin in 2020. Putin's constitutional changes allowed him to extend his presidency beyond 2024, with amendments permitting his re-election until 2036. These changes also included symbolic measures, such as affirming Russia's status as the Soviet Union's successor, emphasizing Russians' faith in God, defending the Soviet Union's role in World War II, and defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Kremlin leveraged state-controlled media to highlight provisions that ostensibly increased state support for citizens, thereby masking the primary intent of consolidating Putin's power.In Serbia, Vucic is likely to frame any proposed constitutional changes as "patriotic reforms" aimed at strengthening the nation. Nationalism has been Vucic's most potent political tool since coming to power, and he is expected to exploit the current protests to further his agenda. By infusing nationalist elements into the narrative, Vucic could divert public attention away from the original causes of the protests—government corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement—and refocus it on patriotic rhetoric. Should another referendum occur, it would likely follow these constitutional changes and serve as a means to legitimize Vucic's extended rule, solidifying his power for the foreseeable future.

 

dw.com

Serbia and US: The next great transatlantic friendship?

Sanja Kljajic

8–10 minutes

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"New era in Serbia–US relations!" ran the headline in a Serbian tabloid following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election last November. It was a sentiment echoed by other Serbian newspapers, too.

Soon after, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that during his phone call with the president-elect, he emphasized that support for Trump's reelection had been greater in Serbia than anywhere else in Europe.

"I am confident that we will make — he will make — America great again, and that we will make Serbia a proper country, one that will be able to cooperate very well with the United States," Vucic said at the time.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma is travelling to Belgrade this weekend to initiate a strategic dialogue between Serbia and the US Image: Tierney Cross/AFP/Getty Images

Just 10 days before Donald Trump's inauguration, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma will arrive in Serbia this weekend with the goal of initiating a strategic dialogue between Serbia and the US, and raising bilateral relations to a higher level.

Serbia: 'a reliable partner and ally'

"When the US establishes a strategic dialogue with a country, it means that it sees that country as a reliable partner and ally," says Vuk Velebit of the Pupin Initiative, a Belgrade-based NGO working to strengthen Serbia–US relations.

"Serbia has had strategic agreements with China, Russia and, of course, a special relationship with the EU," Velebit told DW. "The fourth pillar of [Serbia's] foreign policy is the US, and by signing this strategic dialogue, Serbia will achieve this with Washington, which means that relations with China and Russia, along with their influence, will be balanced by a special relationship with America," he added.

Closer cooperation despite sanctions?

This strategic cooperation would, according to reports in Serbian media, primarily focus on areas such as the economy, energy and security.

As part of a set of measures targeting Russia's energy sector, the US has imposed sanctions on the Serbian oil and gas company NIS, of which the state-owned Russian company Gazprom Neft is the majority shareholderImage: Oliver Bunic/AFP/Getty Images

However, it comes at a time when the US has imposed sanctions on Serbia's oil company NIS, of which the state-owned Russian company Gazprom Neft is the majority shareholder. These sanctions are part of a wider set of US measures targeting Russia's energy sector.

"They demand from us a complete exit of Russians from NIS: remove, not reduce," Vucic said on January 10, adding that the deadline for the Balkan country to reach an agreement with the Russians could be extended to March 12 at the latest.

For Vuk Velebit, this is a chance for Serbia to push for a change in NIS ownership. "I think that Serbia wants to correct the harmful sale of NIS, which was sold below any market price, making us completely dependent on Russia in the energy sector," he told DW.

"It's not good to be dependent on any single partner, and for Serbia, it is crucial not only to regain control over the sector but also to diversify its energy portfolio. US and American companies could be a reliable partner in this."

High hopes in the new administration

The euphoria surrounding Trump's return to the White House is most striking in Serbia's pro-government tabloids, which are predicting a grand dismantling of globalism.

President Vucic (right) presented Richard Grenell (left), Trump's former envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, with the Order of the Serbian Flag in 2023Image: Darko Vojinovic/dpa/picture alliance

President Vucic himself shares this view and is confident that Donald Trump — whom he has called the "leader of the era" — will deliver.

"Donald Trump is preparing 200 acts, which he will sign and issue on the first or second day of his presidency. When he does, the entire system of the false liberal world will collapse," said Vucic.

Impact on Serbia–Kosovo relations?

However, beyond the prospect of a "fight against globalists," which delights Serbian officials, the return of the Republicans raises hopes in Belgrade that the US might become more favorable to Serbia in the Kosovo dialogue process too. 

Vuk Vuksanovic, a researcher at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, believes that those hopes are to a certain degree realistic.

"Serbia's government certainly does not believe that the Trump administration will change its stance on Kosovo, but they do believe that on issues such as the economic position of Serbs in northern Kosovo and the protection of monuments and religious sites in Kosovo, they might get a better deal with the Trump administration," explains Vuksanovic.

US President Trump (center), Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (seated left) and Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti (seated right) at the signing of the Washington Agreement to normalize economic relations between the two Balkan neighbors in September 2020Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/E. Vucci

"But the key issue now," he continued, "is whether this political capital will be spent on something else — such as on securing the Trump administration's support for the regime at a time when it is facing its most serious problem: the student protests."

Are the hopes justified?

But are Serbia's high expectations justified? Analysts seem to think that they are, especially as US–Serbia relations have been steadily improving for years under both Trump and Biden.

"The government in Belgrade has made three major investments in partnership with the future Trump administration: the relationship with Richard Grenell, the agreement with Kushner, and the delivery of ammunition to Israel to regain access to the Israeli lobby and, through that, access to the White House," says Vuksanovic.

Richard Grenell was the special envoy for negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo and a frequent visitor to Belgrade between 2019 and 2021 during Trump's first term in office. In 2023, President Vucic awarded him the Order of the Serbian Flag, First Class, for his significant contribution to strengthening peaceful cooperation and friendly relations between Serbia and the US.

Donald Trump Jr. visited Belgrade in September 2023 and met with a group of Serbian businessmen to discuss potential investments, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also has business ventures in Belgrade.

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner (right), who was an adviser to the president during his first term in office, has business ventures in BelgradeImage: Anna Moneymaker / Pool via CNP /MediaPunch/picture alliance

Serbia signed a contract with Kushner's company to revitalize the former headquarters of the Yugoslav Ministry of Defense in Belgrade, parts of which were destroyed during NATO's bombardment of the country in 1999.

There are plans to build two high-rise buildings with apartments and hotels on the site. Although the contract itself has not been made public, The New York Times reported in March that the investment is worth $500 million (€485 million) and that the Serbian state is expected to receive 22% of the profits.

Trump more interested in Eastern Europe?

Velebit is confident that the Trump administration will focus more on Eastern than on Western Europe.

"For them, controlling Russian influence, but also curbing Turkish influence, will be important. That's why the relationship with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia will be crucial," Velebit concludes.

So, does this mean Serbia could shift its course from East to West?

"Western countries have always had the majority share — the larger stake in Serbia and the Balkans — compared to Russia and China," says Vuksanovic.

"But I believe that of all Serbia's Western partners, the United States will be the most important for Belgrade, as long as Trump is in power. Moreover, the main tension in relations with Trump and his administration will come not from Kosovo or Russia, but from relations with China."

Edited by: Aingeal Flanagan

 

news.am

Serbia terminates several arms supply agreements with Russia

newsam

~2 minutes

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Serbia has terminated a number of arms supply agreements with Russia, said the chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Milan Mojsilovic, in an interview with the Serbia's Novosti newspaper.

This is how Mojsilovic answered the question whether the sanctions on Russia made it difficult for the Serbian army to use Russian weapons.

According to the chief of the General Staff of the Serbian army, since the weapons made in the former Soviet Union are still used in a large number of the world's armed forces, and are also produced under licenses in a number of countries, Serbia has found a way to supply spare parts and maintain military equipment even under sanctions.

"As for the supply of weapons from the Russian Federation, it is practically impossible at the moment. We are trying to find a way to overcome the newly created situation through diplomatic channels. We terminated some agreements, we postponed some, hoping that the situation in international relations at the global level will be settled and enable to implement the agreements," said Milan Mojsilovic.

 

n1info.rs

Serbian ambassador walks out of ceremony over support to students

N1 Belgrade

2–3 minutes

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Serbia's Ambassador in Croatia Jelena Milic walked out of an event organized by the Serb National Council after an award recipient lent support to the student protests.

Milic was attending the traditional Orthodox Christmas Eve reception organized by the Serb national minority's political body which included an award ceremony. First prize this year went to writer Jasminka Petrovic and filmmaker Radivoje Rasa Andric for the book and movie The Summer I Learned to Fly about the consequences of the war in Croatia.

Petrovic sent a letter to the ceremony expressing gratitude to "young people in Serbia who have been teaching us how to fly and shine". Those words led Milic to walk out of the ceremony.

Milic told RTL TV later that she left the ceremony because the Serb National Council leaders did not react to that part of the letter which, according to her, was a direct allusion to the student blockades of universities in Serbia. "I simply did not like the way the Council reacted," she said and claimed that she wrote on her Facebook profile earlier that she supports young people standing in squares, not blocking institutions and when they demand justice for injustice. "Blockades, calling my country a tyranny, calling my president and the state leadership killers I simply and absolutely do not support," Milic said.

Milic was an opponent of the current Serbian regime as leader of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies NGO. She is also remembered for walking out of a talk show which included then Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.