RIGHT NOW: Massive demonstrations
Serbia
Mass protests in Serbia

Rebecka Rosengart

Updated 16.44 | Published 15.27

Some believe that Saturday could be a “D-day” for the incumbent government.

One of the largest demonstrations to date is now underway in the Serbian capital Belgrade – where one of the goals is more transparency in government.

– This is the biggest step forward since I was born, says protester Nemanja, 32.

Quick version

• Tens of thousands are expected to participate in a massive demonstration in Belgrade to protest against government corruption and demand increased transparency in government.
• The protesters accuse President Vucic of corruption and call for his resignation, while the atmosphere at the parliament is tense and there is a risk of violence.
• The government has suspended train services to Belgrade due to an alleged bomb threat, which is suspected of being aimed at preventing participation in the protests.

Tens of thousands of people are taking part in protests to show their dissatisfaction with the government in Belgrade today. The demonstration could be the largest in the country's history.

President Aleksandar Vucic's government is corrupt and he himself must resign, the protesters say.

The atmosphere at the parliament is tense. Several media outlets are writing that the protests on Saturday could be decisive for the country's future - and become a so-called "D-day".

Nemanja in the demonstration march Photo: Private

FACTS

Facts about the demonstrations

Protests against the government have been going on since November 1 last year, after the roof of a railway station in Novi Sad collapsed and 15 people died. The incident sparked great anger because many Serbs saw it as a result of, among other things, poor maintenance of state construction projects.

At first, the protests were small and led by students around the country. But now they have grown into the largest in Serbia's history. Up to 100,000 people have demonstrated simultaneously.

The accident was a trigger for the protests – dissatisfaction with the government had been there for a long time. The EU has also criticized the country for not being democratic enough.

Vučić and his conservative party SNS have ruled Serbia since 2012.

Nemanja on site: “Big step”

One of those taking part in the demonstrations is Nemanja, 32. He normally lives in Sweden but has traveled to Serbia over the weekend to participate in the demonstrations with friends and family.

– This is the biggest step forward since I was born. We want a country that can do a democratic job, he says.

          

        

         Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Belgrade.

         1 / 2Photo: Marko Drobnjakovic / AP

He went to the demonstration on foot as public transport is suspended. People walk in groups and it is loud. Cars are honking, he says.

– I hope it leads to change and that everything goes smoothly. It has been a very emotional month in the country since 15 people died. Someone did something very wrong and no one is being held accountable for it, he says and continues:

- We want to see real changes in society. Today we stand up against international corruption, injustice and against the highest decision-makers who avoid responsibility for the tragedy in Novi Sad.

He feels good in Sweden, but wants his family who remain in Serbia to live a normal life, says Nemanja. He is demonstrating for them.

Here a man is arrested at the demonstrations. Photo: Armin Durgut / AP

Violence awaits - something the president knows and wants

Both demonstrators against and supporters of the government are gathering in Belgrade - and it could be violent, they said before the event.

A few hours into Saturday, a car drove into the demonstrators and three people were injured, Sky News reports.

Violence is also something the president was hoping for, according to a professor according to AFP.

– He probably hopes that it will be violent, to give the police the right to intervene and get most of the protesters to leave, the professor told AFP.

Rust for chaos. Photo: Marko Drobnjakovic / AP

In an interview last week, President Vucic said, according to EWB, that he “knows everything” about the protesters’ plans.

– There is already an agreement about who will start throwing eggs, who will start throwing stones, torches at the National Assembly … When the violence starts, we will let it happen, so that you (the public) can see the perpetrators. Our units will withstand the attack. But then the state will act as it should, it will take revenge and arrest all the outlaws,” Vucic said.

Vucic has repeatedly said that the protesters are criminal perpetrators of violence and accuses them of staging a coup.

Serbia's prime minister resigned at the end of January as a result of anti-corruption protests. But President Vucic has said he will not resign.

          

        

         The red word on the sign means constitution.

         1 / 2Photo: Private

Rumors about government involvement

On Friday, March 14, all train services to Belgrade were suspended for two days. The reason is said to be a bomb threat. But many speculate that the ruling party is trying to limit the number of people coming to the demonstrations, writes  The Guardian.

Tens of thousands are expected to take to the streets. Photo: Private