Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in a public address on Monday that he would send a request to the Serbian government "for the most urgent and massive restructuring possible."
"Because in these difficult political times, it has become clear who is willing to work and fight, who is not, and with that in mind, I expect more than 50 percent of ministers to be dismissed and replaced in a very, very urgent restructuring," Vučić said on January 27.
He said that in the last three months, after the accident at the railway station in Novi Sad - in which 15 people died - an atmosphere has been created that is not in anyone's best interest.
"In these three months, we have heard many accusations against state troops, calls for the overthrow of the state, we have heard very irresponsible statements, not only from the opposition, but also from those of us in power," he said.
The Serbian president said he had spoken with government representatives and that they "have stated that they are willing to listen to the other side" [the protesting students] and that they want dialogue and conversation.
Student protests in Serbia
Students in Serbia have been blocking over 60 faculties for more than two months.
They are seeking criminal and political responsibility for the deaths of 15 people from the collapse of a shelter at the Novi Sad Railway Station.
They also received support from numerous public figures, actors, singers, athletes, media workers, as well as individuals from other professions, such as lawyers, judges, prosecutors, doctors, educators, as well as opposition politicians in Serbia.
Serbian authorities say that foreign intelligence services are also involved in organizing the blockades, while there are also "foreign mercenaries" among the students.
According to them, this is proven by the fact that the student blockades do not stop, even though their demands have been met - which is rejected by the students.
The students' demands for an end to the blockades include the publication of full documentation for the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station, to determine responsibility for the accident of November 1, 2024.
They also demand that the attackers of demonstrators across Serbia, during the protests that followed the accident, be identified and face criminal responsibility.
The demands also include the release of activists arrested during the protests, the suspension of criminal proceedings against them, and an increase in the budget for universities.
The High Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad has filed indictments against 13 people in connection with the deadly collapse of a shelter at the city's Railway Station.
"All student requests have been met"
Vučić said that further publication of documentation for the reconstruction of the railway station in Novi Sad is taking place, and that, according to him, all the demands of the protesting students have been met.
"Today we have already published some, and the publication of 925 documents is in the process," Vučić said in an address to the public.
"We have offered everything. There is no document related to the reconstruction of the railway station," Vučić said.
Speaking about the students' demand for the prosecution of those responsible for the attacks on students, Vučić said that criminal proceedings have been initiated against 37 individuals.
Regarding the involvement of government officials in the attacks, Vučić has said that "there is only one case in New Belgrade" and that he believes it "has already been resolved."
"I am ready to forgive"
Regarding the students' request to drop the criminal charges against the protesters, Vučić said that there is a well-founded suspicion that some of them have committed criminal offenses, but that he is ready to sign a decision to pardon them from the judicial processes if there is no other option.
"The question is whether all of this that we have accomplished will be enough for someone to say that 'all requirements have been met?' I'm not sure, but I hope so. But I am sure that this will start a dialogue in society, and that some of the rectors and deans, and everyone else, will start talking, the dialogue will start, and thus the healing of our society will begin," Vučić said.
Vucic, Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić are addressing the public on the day when students have organized a 24-hour blockade at one of the main traffic points in Belgrade./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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