Serbian President announces early parliamentary election amid protests

During a national address on Wednesday, President Vucic stated that the election would take place "by the end of this year." Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, a trusted political ally, stood alongside him and expressed her readiness to resign.

However, most opposition parties have rejected the proposition of early elections, citing President Vucic's firm grip on power, including his control over mainstream media, which they allege is heavily influenced by his administration.

In Belgrade, the capital city, tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets, demanding President Vucic's resignation, the removal of senior government officials, and the revocation of broadcasting licenses for two pro-government television networks accused of promoting violence and glorifying criminals.

President Vucic, despite the mounting pressure, has refused to acknowledge any responsibility for the crisis and dismissed the protesters' demands. He accused them of exploiting the tragic mass shootings as a means to seize power without going through the electoral process, even suggesting that they would harm him and his family.

In turn, the opposition has accused President Vucic of fostering intolerance and hate speech during his increasingly autocratic rule, while allegedly unlawfully asserting control over all state institutions. President Vucic vehemently denied these allegations and claimed that opposition groups are aiming to forcibly remove him from power.

The nation was deeply shaken by two separate shootings that occurred on May 3 and 4. The first incident took place in a primary school in central Belgrade when a 13-year-old boy, using his father's firearm, opened fire on fellow students, resulting in the deaths of eight students and a school guard. Tragically, one more girl later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. The following day, a 20-year-old individual used an automatic weapon to randomly target people in two villages south of Belgrade, killing eight individuals and injuring 14 others.

As the discontent grows, another protest is planned for the upcoming weekend, presenting a significant challenge to President Vucic and potentially posing one of the most substantial threats to his 11-year-long rule. (ILKHA)