German-language media have extensively covered the ongoing protests in Serbia, focusing on government attempts to divide, discredit, and even physically target demonstrators.
A Wave of Civil Disobedience
On January 24, protests escalated into a “general strike” and widespread civil disobedience. German press agency dpa notes that the demonstrations initially started over the collapse of a shelter in Novi Sad but have since expanded into broader opposition against President Aleksandar Vučić’s government and widespread corruption in Serbia.
Challenges for Vučić
The Berliner Zeitung highlights that while Vučić is no stranger to mass protests—whether over the school shooting in Ribnikar, lithium mining, or alleged election fraud—the current unrest presents a new dynamic.
Unlike earlier protests, often spearheaded by a fragmented opposition with limited public support, the ongoing demonstrations are led by students who deliberately distance themselves from discredited opposition leaders. This approach, the paper argues, has left Vučić, an experienced political strategist, struggling to respond effectively.
Striking at the Core of the System
Swiss public broadcaster SRF observes that the Serbian government has long controlled every level of state and society, from media to public enterprises.
“When students demand institutions that function independently of political parties, they are targeting the heart of Aleksandar Vučić’s system and the clientelism he has entrenched,” the report states.
“Desperate” Measures
Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger and Austria’s Der Standard describe Vučić’s recent rally in Jagodina as a “desperate attempt” to divert attention from numerous scandals plaguing his administration.
Austrian outlet Die Presse adds that the authorities’ hopes for the protests to fizzle out after the winter holidays have been dashed. Instead, efforts to discredit and suppress the growing wave of strikes and protests, including attempts to divide or physically attack demonstrators, appear to have only intensified public resistance.
A Broader Movement
Observers emphasize that the protests have united people across generational and professional lines, making it increasingly difficult for the government to control the narrative.
As the protests persist, Serbian citizens are sending a clear message: their calls for institutional independence, transparency, and accountability will not be silenced.
