Dragan Đilas, the president of Serbia’s Freedom and Justice Party (SSP), stated that while the opposition was instrumental in sparking the protests, it should now take a step back and lend support to student leaders.

During his appearance on the show “Marker” on Insider Television, he condemned the violence directed at students and the “prevailing climate of fear,” urging for reforms that he believes will liberate the nation from the political sway of criminal elements.

Đilas characterized remarks made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, claiming that the country is under attack from both external and internal forces, as alarming.

He asserted that students, professors, educators, parents, and numerous supporters of the protests cannot be labeled as adversaries of the state.

Rather, Đilas contended that it is not Serbia itself that faces an assault, but rather the regime of Aleksandar Vučić, which he claims is built on “corruption, crime, and fraud.” He interprets this uprising as a response from the populace, spearheaded by students.

When inquired about what the opposition has accomplished recently, Đilas highlighted that in the early months, they fulfilled their responsibilities.

“We organized the initial protest in Novi Sad, which attracted over 20,000 participants. We advocated for the release of unjustly detained individuals and opposed police brutality. Subsequently, we disrupted an assembly session that was ultimately concluded illegally and launched the 11:52 initiative, which gained traction across Serbia,” Đilas explained.

According to Đilas, this initiative demonstrated that it was the students and citizens who stood against the SNS, which catalyzed the student protests.

“Once the students took to the streets, the opposition felt their job was complete and assumed they should withdraw,” Đilas concluded.

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