Europe
10:17, 14-Apr-2019
Thousands protest against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
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Thousands of people Saturday rallied in Belgrade against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who they accuse of authoritarianism and muzzling the media.
Police put the number of demonstrators at 7,500, while the opposition estimated tens of thousands had turned out.
Protests have been held weekly in Serbia since December against what critics describe as Vucic's slide towards autocratic rule.
Demonstrators march during a protest against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, in central Belgrade, Serbia, April 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo
Demonstrators march during a protest against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, in central Belgrade, Serbia, April 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo
Protesters blew whistles and chanted "thieves, thieves!" as speakers, who addressed the crowd, accused the government of corruption and oppression of media freedoms. The crowd then marched from the national parliament to the government building.
Vucic, an ultra-nationalist-turned-pro-European, has rejected claims he has become autocratic. In response to Saturday's protest, he has scheduled rally of his own supporters for next Friday in Belgrade.
Demonstrators attend a protest against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and
his government, in front of the Parliament Building in central Belgrade, Serbia,
April 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo
Demonstrators attend a protest against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, in front of the Parliament Building in central Belgrade, Serbia, April 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo
Despite the protests, Vucic's SNS party dominates the political arena. Serbia's divided opposition has little in common other than an aversion to the president.
According to a survey published earlier this week, nearly 55 percent of voters would vote for the SNS if legislative elections were held now.
The opposition Alliance for Serbia coalition, an umbrella group of opposition parties from across the political spectrum, would receive 11.8 percent of the vote, the Faktor Plus survey showed.
Parliamentary elections are due in 2020.
(Cover: Demonstrators wave Serbian flags during a protest against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, in front of the Parliament Building in central Belgrade, Serbia, April 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo)
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Source(s): AFP