FM Dacic: Belgrade Protests an Attempt to Topple State Institutions, Constitutional Order

Ivica Dacic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

On Dec. 28, Foreign Minister and Security Services Coordination Bureau Chief Ivica Dacic said that a Bureau meeting concluded that the Dec. 24 protests in downtown Belgrade over alleged election rigging involved were “an attempt to topple the [state’s] institutions and, therefore, the constitutional order itself” but that the current security situation in the country is stable.

Speaking for Prva TV, Dacic explained that “the violent protests in front of Belgrade City Hall came as no surprise.” Not only had they been announced in advance, he said, but the authorities had also received intel “indicating that something of the kind may take place.”

The police, the minister insisted, responded within their authority, although not nearly as extremely as they could have. “The police and the Prosecutor’s Office will continue to react according to the law. No one will be afforded special treatment,” he said.

Dacic went on to say that no one will be surprised if Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti attempts to exploit Serbia’s “internal political events.” “There is constant syncing between what happens in [Serbia’s] internal arena and what Kurti does,” he said.

The minister stated that “February will likely bring concentrated pressures on Serbia so that as much as possible is achieved with regards to Kosovo.” “It would be good if [Serbia] entered this period politically stable i.e. with formed state bodies and a political majority on all levels,” Dacic added.

At the state level, there is no question or obstacle to such a majority, Dacic said and expressed his conviction that a solution will be found regarding Belgrade’s local government as well. “I don’t see a need to hold a repeat election. If someone received a mandate, then they should use it. Repeating the vote would be a waste of time,” opined Dacic, who leads the Socialist Party of Serbia.