site.btaBelgrade University Rector Open to Parliamentary Nomination by Students

The University of Belgrade Rector Prof. Vladan Djokic said that it would be a "gesture of trust and an honour" if protesting students nominated him to run for a seat in the National Assembly of Serbia, Serbian media reported Wednesday.

Students who have blocked around 60 faculties have been demanding for early parliamentary elections for more than six months, since the collapse of the train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed sixteen people.

Prof. Djokic made this statement in response to Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, who on Tuesday called for his resignation, claiming that the Rector had already given his consent and signed the nomination. Brnabic accused the Rector of violating the Higher Education Act, which prohibits political activity within universities and higher education institutions.

In early May, the protesting students called for early parliamentary elections and declared that they would not run as candidates themselves, but would support a list of individuals who have not previously been involved in the country’s political life.