Students from the “Blockade” movement organized a nationwide campaign under the slogan “Call for Victory”, collecting signatures to demand early parliamentary elections. The initiative is active in over 100 municipalities and cities, with nearly 500 stands set up for citizens to participate.
According to the campaign website, students are collecting signatures at 491 stands in 113 locations, with posted schedules for each stand.
High Turnout and Local Reactions
In Kraljevo, organizers had to print additional ballots due to the unexpectedly high number of citizens. Anastasija from the IT Blockade movement said they were satisfied with the turnout, despite some provocateurs criticizing the initiative for not aligning with the policies of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
In Niš, reporter observations highlighted long queues and predominantly older citizens signing the petitions, behaving diligently as if voting in official elections. Dobrivoje Stojanović, a local, said he was surprised by the number of pensioners supporting the action and expressed hope that elections would end the dominance of one political figure.
In Novi Sad, due to high public interest, some locations ran out of signature sheets, prompting organizers to manage logistics to meet demand.
Events and Community Engagement
Alongside signature collection, students organized a New Year bazaar in Novi Sad and Sremska Kamenica, offering workshops, charity donations for children, and community gatherings. Activities included:
- Decorating Christmas trees
- Making warm drinks and pancakes
- Craft workshops and badge-making
- Evening light ceremonies on Christmas trees
- Panel discussions on civic engagement and election participation
Rektor Vladan Đokić of the University of Belgrade publicly supported the initiative, signing the petition at Students’ Square.
Sociologist Zoran Gavrilović, director of the Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI), stated that the signatures collected today reflect the public mood and help citizens prepare for upcoming elections.
Public Participation Highlights
- High citizen turnout noted in Kraljevo, Niš, Novi Sad, and Sremska Kamenica
- Senior citizens actively participating, showing broad public support
- Events combining civic activism with festive community engagement
- Humanitarian elements, such as collecting donations for children
Organizers emphasized that the campaign aims to mobilize citizens, encourage political participation, and build local community engagement in anticipation of upcoming elections.
