Belgrade 3/20/2025
Public Statement
OUR VIEWS
ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN SERBIA
AFTER MARCH 15TH 2025
Forum for Security and Democracy remarks that the acceptance of the PM's resignation in the Serbian National Assembly has formally marked a new phase in Serbia's political crisis, the duration and the outcome of which is still uncertain.
FSD (FBD) expects that parliament will also discuss the ousting of the chairman of the National Assembly, who's leadership of that highest representative body gave an immeasurable contribution to the collapse of that institution's authority.
FSD notes the responsibility for that state of affairs lies heavily on the ruling majority gathered around the Serbian Progressive Party.
FSD supports the views that the acceptance of the PM's resignation by Parliament came inexcusably late. This tardiness must itself be subjected to criticism and an explanation of what was the cause of it. This is paramount given that in the 50 days since the PM announced to the public that he is resigning the ongoing political crisis has continued to radicalize by the day and with it the distrust of government institutions and the highest political authorities.
FSD points out that the overcoming of these dangerous crises is hindered by notable absence of political will on the part ruling party and government institutions to address them, the lack of readiness and capacity to analyze the root causes and to publicly consider it's own accountability for the accumulated public discontent caused by manifest corruption and political protectionism - which has only flared up after the tragic collapse of the canopy of Novi Sad railway station building on November 1st 2024.
FSD emphasizes that the students from Serbia's state universities have significantly contributed to the articulation of accumulated public discontent with the forms and means of governance. After four and a half months that discontent was plainly shown on March 15th 2025 at the imposing mass protests which gathered citizens from all over Serbia who came at the student's call and who still support the students' three month long efforts. The mass protest on March 15th in Belgrade represents and will continue to represent a milestone in Serbia's current political crisis as well as a milestone in its nation's history.
FSD notes and is worried by the prolonged attempts by the authorities to be the highest and only authority on, and to twist, the social significance of the mass protests on March 15th.
FSD is also concerned with the continued insistence on the narrative of a colored revolution against Serbia which is being incited from abroad and by the West, which is almost identical to the one which has been framed and imposed by Russia and its secret services.
FSD warns that such a narrative is an increasingly overshadowing threat to Serbia's status as a candidate for EU membership. At the same time it also leads to the continuation of dangerous divides and further confrontations of Serbia's government on one side and the Serbian people who have been inspired and animated by students' actions this past winter on the other. This could lead to unforeseeable consequences for Serbia's security and its democratic future.
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