A press review presented in partnership with The Balkan Courier.
3 mins
Romania and Bulgaria have finally joined “partly” the Schengen area, March 31, 2024. Controls at internal air and sea borders have been lifted, but not on land. Air passengers are rejoicing, road carriers can’t take it anymore.
Türkiye: Kemalist opposition triumphs in local elections
A red wave swept across Turkey, on the occasion of the local elections of March 31, 2024. The Kemalists of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) inflicted a clear setback on Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), largely retaining their strongholds of Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir. The People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM, pro-Kurdish) is winning in the east.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visits Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina on April 4 and 5, Viktor Orban was awarded the Order of Republika Srpska, joining Vladimir Putin in the club of recipients. Further proof of the very close relations between the Hungarian Prime Minister and the head of the Serbian entity, Milorad Dodik.
In the Federation, Irfan Cengic, the mayor of the Stari Grad district of Sarajevo, was targeted by an explosive device, which did not cause any injuries. Irfan Čengic was elected in early elections in October 2023, after the dismissal of Ibrahim Hadzibajric, a member of the Democratic Action Party (SDA) convicted of money laundering and abuse of power.
In the Croatian cantons, the campaign for early legislative elections which will be held in neighboring Croatia on April 17 is in full swing. Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina are traditionally a strong vote base for the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), but this year they are also being courted by the coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and President Zoran Milanovic, in full nationalist escalation.
The far right on the offensive in Serbia
Of the far-right commandos – including members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) – have been blocking the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad since Thursday March 28. Their target? Professor Dinko Gruhonjic, who proclaims himself “ Bosnian and Yugoslav “. On Sunday March 31, the university announced the temporary lifting of the blockade.
The Orthodox Church, the Academy and the Council for the Serbian Language are united against a law passed by Parliament which provides the feminization of certain professions, in order to make the language more inclusive and more gender sensitive. But why such conservatism?
Greece: a femicide in front of a police station unworthy of the whole country
A young woman of 28 years old was stabbed to death by her former partner on April 1, in front of the police station in a suburb of Athens, where she had just asked for help. This fifth femicide since the start of 2024 shocks all of Greece.
Culture: a new Serbian series in competition at Cannes
Serbian production is once again in the spotlight at the Canneseries festival, with the presentation this year of the series Operation Saberon the assassination of former Prime Minister Zoran Dindic in 2003. A selection which confirms the talent of the new generation of Serbian cinema.