In regulated countries Universities are highly respected institutions. This is not the case in Serbia - here people who beat people are appreciated. That's why the police come in Rectorate University in Belgrade. Nothing like that happens to crime dens.
How the government perceives higher education, Darko Glišić summed it up best: "Don't enroll your children in blocking colleges, they will return them to you in a coffin like the girl from Šabac".
After this statement, did Prime Minister Đuro Macut – full professor at the Faculty of Medicine – call his minister for public investments and ask him to resign? It's not. On the contrary, he joined in the harangue against the University and the rector Vladan Djokic.
Fear of education
Progressive repression has long ceased to surprise anyone. However, what does Serbia look like under them? It is known - to all those sad and unhappy countries that persecute students and professors for free critical thinking and advocacy for democratic practices.
The regime blatantly instrumentalized the death of a student of the Faculty of Philosophy in order to at least pump up the rating a little before the elections in ten local governments. But why does he continue to attack the University when Vučić is bragging about a 10:0 victory?
There are two reasons. The first is the masking of the further downward trend of SNS. This is all the more so since Vučić himself was a "candidate" in each of those self-governments. There is no one to hide behind.
And another reason. Through solidarity and enthusiasm, the students have created an organization that can rival SNS, even though this party has millions of euros, bullies, almost complete media control and an apparatus for blackmailing the most vulnerable sections of the population.
That's why Vučić wants to destroy the University - the last institution he didn't capture - before the much sought-after parliamentary elections. He is afraid.
Pressure cooker without valve
If it had really consolidated after voting in ten self-governments, it would have relaxed the political situation dangerously like a pressure cooker without a discharge valve. But - it's not. On the contrary, repression only motivated citizens to defend the Constitution and the law. Realizing that he overplayed his game, Vučić now offers consultations with political factors. Look, really... Even excluding the demonization and persecution of political dissidents, his conversations with them would be as pointless as all the previous ones. Onomad - for example - promised in front of Europe that he would solve the issue of REM through dialogue, and then publicly admitted that he personally sabotaged it.
The current call for talks therefore has the purpose of distracting people from trampling the University. While the public is speculating about the date of possible elections - Vučić dreams - he will "wring the necks of students and professors like chickens". Afterwards, Ana Brnabić can be surprised - what a dialogue, "are you even normal"?
As things stand, Vučić will try to crush Serbia even more with repression. The stronger it is, the more the legitimacy and legality of his regime will decline.
This was a review of the week.
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
