NOVI SAD, Serbia (AP) 鈥� Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Serbia as university students announced a new stage in their struggle against President Aleksandar Vucic’s tenure. They have led more than that shook his autocratic government in .
Protesters in Novi Sad, chanting “thieves,” accused the government of that they believe also led to a in the northern city that killed 16 people and triggered the nationwide movement for change.
Vucic has refused to schedule an immediate early election that students have demanded. , or reported losing their jobs or facing pressure for opposing the government.
University students told the crowd in Novi Sad on Saturday that after last year’s protests, they will now offer a plan on how to rid Serbia of corruption and restore the rule of law. They proposed banning corrupt officials from politics and investigating their wealth as first steps for the post-Vucic government.
The protest was dubbed 鈥淲hat victory will mean.鈥� Last month, students said that they collected around 400,000 .
The next protest rally is planned for Jan. 27 in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, organizers said.
Vucic came to power more than a decade ago, promising to take Serbia into the European Union. But he has since strengthened ties with Russia and China, while facing accusations of curbing democratic freedoms in Serbia and allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish.
has garnered big support among Serbs who are largely disillusioned with mainstream politicians. Vucic has accused the students of working under unspecified Western orders to 鈥渄estroy Serbia.鈥�
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