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Vučić postpones Novi Sad rally, saying citizens can no longer endure “terror in the streets”
🇭🇷 Croatia /Elections & Politics

Vučić postpones Novi Sad rally, saying citizens can no longer endure “terror in the streets”

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Aleksandar Vučić said a rally planned for Sept. 4 in Novi Sad had been postponed because he did not want anyone endangered by a display of political power.
  • He referred to the collapse of a Novi Sad canopy that killed 16 people, including children, and said institutions should establish responsibility.
  • Vučić accused political opponents of seeking positions rather than justice and said he would respond by calling elections.

Aleksandar Vučić has postponed a gathering planned for Sept. 4 in Novi Sad, saying he did not want political conflict to endanger anyone’s life. In a video posted on Instagram, the Serbian president said the police would not necessarily protect rally participants from protesters. Instead, he claimed, they might have to protect protesters from citizens angered by what he called “terror in the streets.”

terror in the streets

— Aleksandar VučićVučić used the phrase to describe the anger he said citizens felt toward protesters.

Vučić said he regarded both groups as citizens of Serbia and did not want anyone put at risk because of political clashes. He linked the decision to the tragedy in Novi Sad, where a canopy collapsed almost two years ago, killing 16 people, including children.

Almost two years ago, a terrible tragedy occurred in Novi Sad. A canopy collapsed, and 16 people died, including children. That tragedy affected and changed every one of us.

— Aleksandar VučićHe referred to the Novi Sad collapse while explaining the postponement.

“I am sure that no one is satisfied with the speed of the proceedings and the prosecutors’ answers. But the answers will not be given by me as president, nor by those in the streets, but by our institutions,” Vučić said. He added that responsibility must be established and those responsible punished if wrongdoing is confirmed.

I am sure that no one is satisfied with the speed of the proceedings and the prosecutors’ answers. But the answers will not be given by me as president, nor by those in the streets, but by our institutions.

— Aleksandar VučićHe said institutions, rather than politicians or protesters, should determine responsibility.

The president also criticized his political opponents. He said those who initially demanded justice had since begun seeking “positions.” Vučić said the desire to take power was legal and legitimate, but judged the approach immoral. He also said he would accommodate his opponents by calling elections.

positions

— Aleksandar VučićHe accused opponents who initially demanded justice of now seeking political office.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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