Progressive Party Activists Chased Off Subotica’s Central Square

At noon on Wednesday, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) set up ten booths side by side in the main square of Subotica. Their plan was to promote the party and its program until 9 p.m.—although the purpose of the action remains unclear, as no elections have been announced and there is no ongoing campaign.

In any case, the plan did not go as expected. Shortly after the setup, opponents of their policies began to arrive, soon followed by university students. Similar scenes played out in recent days across several locations in Belgrade.

In the Zvezdara district of the capital, citizens and SNS activists stood opposite each other for several hours, well into the evening, while protesters continuously chanted at them to leave.

A similar “welcome” was given two days earlier near Kalinić Market—just 200 meters from the Hungarian Embassy in Belgrade. There, too, the party eventually packed up, as citizens sang a farewell song to them.

“Go away!”

Behind the ten booths stood a large number of SNS activists, but they could not prevent the public from expressing their disapproval at such a conspicuous presence in the town square.

SNS booths in Subotica’s main square (Source: Magločistač)

Students regarded the large-scale setup in the main square as a provocation. Once they learned that the party intended to promote itself there, they took to social media urging citizens to gather on the Korzo—the city’s main street and central square.

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University students, along with teachers who suspended their classes, schoolchildren, and many citizens equipped with whistles, horns, and banners gathered at the square. The police soon arrived—over a dozen officers—forming a line between the SNS booths and the protesting public.

There were no major incidents, only one man—reportedly under the influence of alcohol—was removed after attacking students on behalf of the SNS. Police intervened swiftly.

Protesters laid a sandwich and two eggs in front of the SNS activists—symbolically forming a male genital shape and also referencing the practice of rewarding party supporters with food during orchestrated rallies.

Citizens of Subotica protested against the Serbian Progressive Party

The two eggs may have referenced a now-infamous comment by former Minister of Trade Tomislav Momirović, who claimed that “two eggs are enough to sustain a person for an entire day, as they are a complete food.”

Among the SNS activists in Subotica were a school principal, a former Democratic Party MP, and a high school teacher, among others.

They Scattered

After persistent chants from citizens telling the party activists they were unwelcome and should leave, they eventually packed up quickly—presumably after consulting their superiors—and left the scene.

SNS activists eventually left (Source: Magločistač)

The students and citizens welcomed the outcome with applause. Instead of loud celebration, however, they observed 17 minutes of silence in memory of the victims of the recent tragedy in Novi Sad and the nightclub fire in North Macedonia.

They stated that if the party activists were to return, they would once again gather in the city center and make it clear they are not welcome. Some believe the SNS was testing public sentiment in Subotica to see whether a large rally—or the “largest gathering ever,” as Vučić has mentioned—could be held in the city.

It became quite clear that such a prospect looks unlikely.

(The translation of artificial intelligence)