Mass Displays of Discontent Give Serbia’s Opposition New Hope

Robert Kozma, a member of Ne Davimo Beograd (Let's Not Drown Belgrade), a campaign organisation that came to parliament for the first time as a part of the Green-Left Coalition at the 2022 elections. Photo: Private archive

A politician with an activist background, Kozma is a member of Ne Davimo Beograd (Let's Not Drown Belgrade), a campaign organisation that came to parliament for the first time as a part of the Green-Left Coalition at the 2022 elections.

"From the justified anger we all share after the irresponsible and arrogant behaviour of the ruling regime, a new hope has been born at these protests. A hope that we can establish justice and responsibility in our country. The protest demands are the first step towards that," Kozma told BIRN.

Are the demonstrators' demands feasible?

The protesters are calling for the governing council of Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media to be replaced, for print media and tabloid newspapers that promote hatred and violence and breach journalistic ethics to be shut down, for the frequencies of the pro-government Pink and Happy TV stations to be revoked, and for reality television shows that depict violence to be banned.

They are also calling for the removal or resignation of Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic and the head of the Security Intelligence Agency, Aleksandar Vulin. Education Minister Branko Ruzic has already submitted his resignation, which opposition parties said in a joint statement is "proof that the government knows only the pressure of citizens, and that it is necessary to persevere until all demands are met".

However, many claim that most of these demands are not realistic, considering the nature of Vucic's rule. The media powerhouses - TV...