site.btaSerbian Opposition MPs Remove Part of Pro-Vucic Camp Outside Parliament Amid Ongoing Protests

A group of opposition MPs in Serbia removed one of the tents from the camp of supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic, set up in front of the main entrance to the National Assembly in Belgrade, regional broadcaster N1 reported.

On Wednesday morning, the MPs dismantled the barriers around the camp, which has become known as "Caciland", and moved towards the parliament's main entrance, where they were met with shouting from Vucic supporters. One of the opposition MPs was knocked to the ground, but police intervened and prevented further clashes. Another MP removed a tent that had been placed on the steps, and the group of lawmakers entered the National Assembly building.

"Caciland" is a neologism that emerged during the anti-government protests in Serbia and refers to the area in Belgrade between the buildings of the presidency and the National Assembly, where the tents of counter-protesters and the pavilions of supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) are located.

In early March, ahead of the mass anti-government protest held in Belgrade on March 15, tents appeared for the first time near the presidency building, put up by students who opposed the faculty blockades and called on the state to ensure that they could continue their studies. In the following months, the tent camp of the counter-protesting students expanded to include pavilions of Serbian Progressive Party supporters, occupying the area in front of the National Assembly as well.

Mass anti-government protests and faculty blockades began in Serbia last November, following the collapse of the canopy of the recently renovated railway station in Novi Sad on November 1, which killed 16 people. Protesters believe the tragedy was caused by corruption and negligence. Their demands for a transparent investigation into the incident and for those responsible to be held criminally accountable have evolved into a call for early elections.

In response to the latest incident, National Assembly President Ana Brnabic said that supporters of President Vucic have the right to remain outside the parliament building. "These people have the right to be in Caciland," she told journalists who asked her when the tents and pavilions of the president's supporters would be removed.

The National Assembly sitting began two hours late, with Brnabic holding consultations with the leaders of parliamentary groups regarding the removal of the barriers and one of the tents in Caciland earlier in the day. She described the actions of the opposition MPs as "political manipulation", adding that "they do not understand that the people in Caciland are fed up with everything".

Brnabic also addressed criticism from opposition deputies that she had failed to deliver on her promise to ensure lawmakers could enter the parliament freely. "From tomorrow, they will be able to enter through any entrance they wish, but I ask them to use it to come to their workplace, not to destroy, set fires, attack girls, but to come to work with dignity," she said.