The Outer

Serbia Considers Confidence Referendum on President Vučić Amid Escalating Protests

By Sama Marwan,

Serbia is considering holding a confidence referendum on President Aleksandar Vučić amid escalating protests. His administration has faced growing demonstrations due to allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

The possibility of such a vote, which could test Vučić’s political legitimacy, was suggested by Dragan Vučićević, the editor-in-chief of the government-supporting newspaper “Informer” and a close ally of the president. Speaking on “Informer” TV, Vučićević stated, “When the holiday period ends, President Vučić will announce an important decision.”

He dismissed polling data from an election monitoring group, which indicated that 60% of voters would oppose Vučić in a referendum, claiming the figures were biased and linked to opposition leaders, particularly Dragan Đilas.

The talk of a potential referendum coincides with ongoing protests across Serbia. These demonstrations were sparked by the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including children. Critics have described the incident as a symbol of government neglect and corruption, according to a report from the “Balkan” news platform.

Since then, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Belgrade and other cities, demanding accountability. Protesters have blocked roads weekly, chanting slogans such as “We want justice,” and adopted a red handprint as a symbol of their movement, expressing accusations that the government is “bloodstained.”

In remarks on Tuesday, Vučić challenged opposition parties to gather the 67 parliamentary signatures required to initiate an advisory referendum, saying, “Legitimacy is the most important thing in politics, and sovereignty comes from the will of the people,” describing the referendum as an opportunity to confirm his democratic mandate.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Parliament Ana Brnabić expressed her support for the idea, assuring that the ruling majority would provide 100 signatures if the opposition fails to meet the required quorum.

The Serbian Progressive Party, led by Vučić, had previously hinted at a referendum in response to criticism, and opposition leaders and protest organizers see this move as an attempt to consolidate power and divert attention from the ongoing unrest.

If the referendum proceeds, it could serve as a true test for Vučić’s administration or an opportunity to ease the protests that have swept the country following the Novi Sad disaster.

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