Police block citizens seeking to approach Serbia’s ruling party meeting in Niš

Citizens who tried to reach Niš’s National Theatre, where the Serbian Progressive Party’s main board was meeting, were stopped by a police cordon. After attempting an alternative route through Dušanova Street, they were halted again near a roundabout.

The citizens said they wanted to hear Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić speak outside the theatre. A student who spoke to N1 said he was satisfied with the turnout because more citizens and students had gathered than supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party.

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Honest support for the president does not exist in this city.

“Honest support for the president does not exist in this city,” another participant said, arguing that the crowd outside had delivered its main message. He said he did not know how the gathering would end.

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I came to thank the president because he arranged for my children to leave the country, and my grandson is celebrating his sixth birthday in China, while I look at pictures and cry.

One woman said she had come to thank Vučić because, in her words, he had helped her children leave the country. She said her grandson was celebrating his sixth birthday in China, while she could only look at photographs and cry. She added that police had denied her the constitutionally guaranteed right to move freely through her city and reach the president.

The Serbian Progressive Party meeting began at 11 a.m. with Vučić in attendance. Party supporters gathered outside the theatre, while police prevented other citizens from approaching. The agenda included current political issues, preparations for upcoming elections, the selection of a list leader and the party’s candidate for prime minister. Party president Miloš Vučević said members would also decide the name of the electoral list and establish its main principles and program.

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I am satisfied because many people came.