• 2025-05-08

Student and Civic Protests Have Shown That Serbian Citizens Share European Values of Democracy and Rule of Law

Nataša Vučković for NIN

"Student and civic protests have shown that the citizens of Serbia share European values of democracy and the rule of law, and that the principles of separation of powers, accountable government, and good governance are well rooted in Serbian society. I consider this a very important argument in any discussion about our citizens' interest in Serbia’s European future", stated Nataša Vučković, Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation, in an interview with NIN.

In a conversation on the topic of young people's trust in institutions, Vučković emphasized that students rightly focused the most on the judiciary.

"The student protest began with a call for institutions, primarily the prosecution and judiciary, to do their job in accordance with their competences, free from unlawful outside influence, especially from the executive branch. In doing so, they pointed to one of Serbia’s fundamental problems - dormant or 'captured' institutions and individuals within them, selective application of the law, the existence of protected groups and individuals, and the nexus between parts of the government and economic power centers - and they sparked a wave of civic dissatisfaction that resonates with the experiences of many who have encountered some form of injustice while trying to exercise their rights, whether to claim what they are legally entitled to or to defend themselves from violations of their rights."

"Each of us knows plenty of people who, in the past ten years, have experienced some form of injustice at the hands of government officials, the ruling party, or local power brokers. This gives rise to a demand for justice, which students have placed at the center of their narrative on the need to reform institutions. After all, this is also a kind of response to the diagnosis of a 'captured state' that has appeared for several years now in various analyses by both European and domestic analysts", says Vučković, and adds:

"Student and civic protests have shown that Serbian citizens share European values of democracy and the rule of law, and that the principles of separation of powers, accountable government, and good governance are well rooted in Serbian society. I consider this a very important argument in any discussion about our citizens' interest in Serbia’s European future. Students may have rightly focused on the judiciary at the outset, considering the need and expectation that the case of the collapsed canopy be addressed as soon as possible, that a credible investigation be conducted, and that those responsible be brought to justice".

Nataša Vučković points out that the relationship between institutions is largely shaped by the balance of political power, making it necessary for other institutions, particularly the parliament, to also be in focus. As she explains, the National Assembly is the place where the sovereignty of citizens is expressed, from which all other branches of government derive, directly or indirectly, where laws are adopted and public spending is planned, and where transparent oversight of all government activities should take place, especially oversight of state spending.

"This oversight function can and must be effectively performed by the opposition. Instead of distancing themselves from the progressive and pro-European opposition, student and civic protests cannot help but see an ally in the opposition. After all, it was opposition activists in smaller towns who helped organize local civic gatherings. The demand for political articulation of student and civic protests means setting political demands, creating a political platform, building partnerships and coalitions, uniting and agreeing on joint actions in preparation for and participation in, above all, parliamentary elections. A political platform should point the way to institutional reform, but also address political issues that have long been on our political agenda", Vučković concludes.

Source: NIN