Fresh anti-government protests in several Serbia’s towns

N1

The public anti-government rallies symbolically called #1 in 5 million were held in the central Serbian town Trstenik, Kursumlija in the country’s south and the northern town of Zrenjanin among other places on Thursday, N1 reported.

Hundreds of people walked in Zrenjanin following speeches by a student, a farmer and a sports commentator.

The crowd in Kursumlija repeated messages from previous weeks which they sent to President Aleksandar Vucic demanding special status for their municipality “because it is only 105 kilometres away from Kosovo.”

They said that 8,000 local people left Kursumlija in the last seven years and that if nothing happened regarding their accusations of local authorities of nepotism and other wrong-doing, they would block the road to Pristina.

Anti-government protests started in Belgrade last December and are held every Saturday in the capital.

Main demands include Vucic’s resignation, fair elections and free media.

In the meantime, the demonstrations spread to some 60 places across the country with the same demands but also with requests for solving local problems.

The slogan #1 in 5 million was chosen as the main message after Vucic said he would not cede to the protesters’ demands even if five million of them gathered.

Serbia’s opposition has kept a low profile during the protests but drafted the “Agreement with the People,” including the demands heard during the public rallies and has offered the citizens to sign it if they agree.