The protest organized by the informal group ‘Rebel University’ has been ongoing for eight days in front of the Government of Serbia building, where participants are blocking the intersection of Kneza Miloša and Nemanjina streets. Members of the academic community, including students, have set up tents and barricades, causing traffic in the area to be halted. Police are redirecting traffic to surrounding streets. The protest began last Monday, with participants demanding the fulfillment of three requests: the dissolution of the working group for drafting a new higher education law, the repeal of the amended regulation on university work standards, and the adoption of budget quotas for faculty admissions by the end of June at the latest. This protest continues previous days of demonstrations, during which the academic community expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of higher education and demands concrete changes from the Government of Serbia.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the protest as a legitimate and necessary movement by students and academics fighting for better education policies and transparency. They highlight the grassroots nature of the protest and criticize the government for ignoring the demands of the academic community. The narrative focuses on social justice, educational reform, and democratic participation.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the protest factually, focusing on the events, the demands of the protesters, and the government’s responses. They provide balanced coverage, noting the disruption caused by the blockade but also the importance of addressing the concerns of the academic community. The narrative is neutral, emphasizing dialogue and negotiation.
Right: Right-leaning media tend to highlight the disruption caused by the protests, focusing on the traffic blockades and inconvenience to citizens. They may question the legitimacy or effectiveness of the protest and emphasize the government’s efforts to maintain order and continue governance. The narrative often stresses law and order and criticizes prolonged protests.