A press review presented in partnership with The Balkan Courier.
2 mins
Every day, thousands of people protest across Serbia. On Sunday December 22, there were perhaps 100,000 in Belgrade. Unheard of since the fall of Slobodan Milošević on October 5, 2000. The Vučić regime may put high school students on early vacation, but nothing works: the protest movement spreads and farmers join the students.
Faced with this wave of protest which continues to grow, President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Miloš Vučević rule out any idea of a transitional government.
In Kosovo, the Electoral Commission refused to validate the candidacy of Srpska Lista in the next legislative electionson February 9, arguing that this party supported by Belgrade did not recognize Kosovo. What to provoke a new rise in tension with Belgrade.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Security Minister Nenad Nešić was arrested Thursday December 26 in the context of a case of corruption and abuse of power. Supported by Belgrade, the Serb leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina denounce a “ political persecution “. While the trial of Milorad Dodik is due to resume in Sarajevo on December 30, the leaders of the Serbian entity are relaunching again the specter of secession.
Italy would like to park asylum seekers in Albania, but the Arbëresh practice solidarity with migrants. As in Acquaformosaa small village lost in the mountains of Calabria, where the welcoming model has taken root and now extends to the surrounding villages.
Presidential election in Croatia
He comes from the left, but attacks migrants and minorities, and criticizes the European Union, NATO and the continuation of the war in Ukraine. The outgoing Zoran Milanović casts a wide net and enters the first round of the Croatian presidential election, Sunday December 29, as a big favorite.
This is an unprecedented attack in Croatia. A 7-year-old student was killed and several others injured on the morning of Friday, December 20, duringa knife attack in a primary school in Zagreb. A day of national mourning was announced for the following day. Signs of solidarity are being sent from Serbia, hit by the same type of tragedy in 2023.
Christmas stories
The generosity of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myre who lived in the 3rd and 4th century in the south-west of present-day Türkiye, would have inspired the figure of Santa Claus. Return to this connection in Istanbul with a fine connoisseur of this religious figure, a priest named Nicolas.
In Kosovo, Ilir Culaj, young archaeologist, remembers Christmases with nostalgia of his childhood, when he went to get the log, the buzmiwith his grandfather and his cousins, then went to midnight mass at the Pristina cathedral with his high school friends, Catholics and Muslims alike.