Students and Opposition in Chaos: Boycott of Parliament or Political Farce?
Something is happening in Serbia that should shake the political scene, but instead, it only causes confusion and anger. Students from the Faculty of Agriculture have called on opposition parties to boycott the work of the Serbian Parliament and return their mandates. The goal? To pressure the government to call early elections. But does the opposition really want to fight or just pretend?
What’s going on?
Students have been blocking faculties for months, and now they have moved on to blocking streets in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and other cities. Their demand is clear: opposition parties should boycott the parliament and return their mandates. Three opposition parties have accepted the call, some remain silent, and some have even reacted negatively, although they are not part of the parliament.
Analysts say – returning mandates is counterproductive!
Political analyst Boban Stojanović warns that returning mandates would only benefit the ruling party. How? The mandates would go to other electoral lists, which would give SNS a two-thirds majority in parliament and allow constitutional changes. So, the opposition would be shooting itself in the foot. That’s why students, says Stojanović, are only asking for a boycott, not mandate returns.
Dejan Bursać from the Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory believes this call is part of a broader strategy to pressure the regime, especially at a time when protests and blockades are losing momentum due to summer. He emphasizes that a boycott can motivate opposition voters, while the government demotivates.
Who’s in, who’s out?
The head of the ZLF parliamentary group, Radomir Lazović, immediately accepted the students’ call and said that deputies from his list will boycott the next session. Ecological Uprising and the Movement of Free Citizens also joined the boycott. The Democratic Party and the Party of Freedom and Justice called on all opposition deputies to leave the parliament. The Serbia Center Movement and the Heart Movement also expressed readiness for a boycott but with additional conditions such as the release of detained students and an end to violence.
On the other hand, the Solidarity movement called the students’ call “nonsense” and refused to boycott.
The government and police don’t back down
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić called for the withdrawal of blockades and the preservation of public order. The police announced criminal charges against blockade participants and continued to break up protests. In Novi Sad, two people were arrested for disturbing public order, and in Niš, PSG MP Radivoje Jovović was arrested.
What’s next?
The situation is tense. Students and the opposition are trying to increase pressure on the government, but the government shows no signs of yielding. Analysts warn that returning mandates would be political suicide for the opposition, but a boycott could be a powerful signal of dissatisfaction.
If you think this is just another political show, think again. This fight is for rights, freedom, and Serbia’s future. And you? Do you think the opposition has the guts to stand with the students or will continue to stay silent and waste time? Drop a comment, let the voice of the people be heard!
Blockades in cities: Chaos on the streets
While the opposition is thinking, students and citizens are blocking intersections in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, and other places. Traffic is disrupted at multiple locations, and the police have announced they will file criminal charges. Vučić appealed for the withdrawal of blockades, but students do not give up.
The police have broken up blockades in several places, but demonstrators are moving and continuing protests. The situation is calm but tense. In Niš, a PSG MP was arrested for participating in blockades.
International pressure and reactions
The United Nations have called on Serbian authorities to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The UN is monitoring the situation and calls for restraint and dialogue. However, the government continues to use police force against demonstrators.
Conclusion
Serbia is at a crossroads. Students and the opposition are trying to awaken the people and force the government to change. The government holds firm, using police and judicial measures to suppress protests. Returning opposition mandates would be political suicide, but a boycott could be a powerful tool in the fight for freedom.
It remains to be seen who will have more strength – students and opposition or the government and its apparatus. And you? Are you for the boycott or do you think it’s time for a different strategy? Write, laugh, get angry – let your voice be heard!
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