- Portal 021.rs published photographs of a large banner with the inscription "Republic of Wojwodina", which accompanied an anti-government demonstration for respective hours. More banners have been appearing lately.
- The Marshal of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabić, as the first government representative, admitted that “the demands of the resignation of the authorities are accompanied by various forms of request for the independency of Wojvodina”
- Wojwodina has been the richest and most economically developed part of Serbia and the granary of the country for years. And at the same time, the place of gigantic investments
- More crucial information can be found on the Onetu homepage
Between the Habsburg West and the Balkans
Why this peculiar mosaic? Today's Wojwodina, 60 percent inhabited by Serbs, and 17 percent by Hungarians, has been lying on the border of 2 worlds: Habsburg Austro-Hungarian and the dominant Ottoman empire in the Balkans.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, unlike neighbouring Serbia, Voivodine was incorporated into the Habsburg Empire. This was decided by King John III Sobieski. It has been since then that the inhabitants of Wojwodina have been calling themselves "European citizens", questioning all Balkanism at the same time.
However, neighbouring Hungarians and another citizens of the same Europe, focusing on their own conflict for independency from Vienna, rejected the Voivodins' claim to decide about themselves. Madzers' aversion was utilized by the Serbs, who in 1691 gained the right to territorial autonomy. This distant date is the beginning of Serbian influence in Voivodin. Almost 2 centuries later, despite Serbian efforts, Wojvodina and Banat were incorporated into Austro-Hungarian in 1860.
In the days of Habsburg, all nations in the Kingdom of Hungary settled in the fertile Voivodine. And due to the fact that there were many of them, it is evidenced by today's multiethnicity.
When the Austro-Hungarian monarchy broke up, December 1, 1918. Voivodina was incorporated into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, and after the end of the next planet War – into the Socialist Federation Republic of Yugoslavia. Although Tito drove out the hated Germans, many representatives of this defeated nation remained in the Wojwodz cities. Thus, the multinational, Slavic-Hungarian-German character of the region remained. The fall of communist Yugoslavia, in which Tito ruled from 1945 to 1980, began in 1988. Importantly, it started in fresh Sada – the capital of Wojwodina.
The beginning of the political degrengolada was Slobodan Milošević's decision to dismiss the leadership of the autonomous state of Vojvodina. It should be remembered that after the introduction of the fresh Yugoslav Constitution in 1974 Voivodin had rights akin to the national republics. This event was rapidly referred to as "the yogurt revolution", as public administration buildings were thrown around by demonstrators... yogurt packaging. Recalling “not his own”, Milošević focused more on the autonomous Kosovo and Methochia, a region twice as tiny as Wojvodina of the surface, which became a more serious inflammatory outbreak.
Vučić writes hope
In 1990, “Slobo” made a decision that could lead to bloody riots in the Voivodine. Fortunately, that did not happen. The abolition of Voivodina's autonomy by Milošević began a three-year conflict changing its cultural image. number representatives fled and from war, and from military mobilization. erstwhile the Miloševicia government collapsed in 2000, the question of restoring Voivodin of Autonomy became real again.
But the people of fresh Sad and another war - water towns had to deal with the taste. due to the fact that the first years of the fresh century are The beginning of the authoritarian regulation of Aleksandar Vučic and the deepening centralization of the Belgrade authorities. Centralization, whose fathers became obedient to Vučici politicians of the Serbian Progressive Party. From year to year Belgrade sent more and more signals to the inhabitants of Wojvodina that there was no return to the erstwhile titan autonomy. A crucial example of this is the decision of the Serbian Constitutional Court, which challenged 2 thirds of the fresh Voivodine Statute in 2013.
Fearing separatist activities, the Belgrade authorities liquidated the Wojvodian Academy of discipline and Art, with the existence of which the alleged patriotic technological circles in Belgrade could not reconcile. The authorities in the capital besides did not like any of the wartime symbols. According to Belgrade, Wojwodina could not have only 1 flag with 3 stars, supposedly resembling this EU flag. So the second 1 that gained authoritative position is added. And it was recommended to usage it more often, due to the fact that it's a conventional Serbian flag from the 19th century!
Another blow to the inhabitants of Wojwodina was the year 2022 erstwhile the fresh Sad was the European Capital of Culture. arrogant residents of the town on the Danube had advanced hopes for this distinction. Although millions of euros flowed there, many projects were closed in drawers of Belgian officials. The multicultural character of Wojvodina remained virtually invisible, due to the fact that it was demanded by the Vierchusz from Belgrade. This approach brought to head any Kosovan analogies. Next to the favourite “Kosovo je Srbić” the slogan “Vojvodin je Srbić” sounded more and more.
In parallel with the centralist approach, programmes and comments were promoted, in which the name Wojvodina was replaced by a sinister “north Serbia”.
Tragedy at the station and the escalation of demands
The day 1 November 2024 will forever be recorded in the past of Serbia and Voivodine. There was a construction disaster at the recently commissioned railway station in Nowy Sada – 15 people died as a consequence of the collapse of the roof. 2 Chinese companies led the rebuilding of the station. According to engineer Daniel Dašic, the origin of the crash was besides dense a steel structure with glass panels that overloaded the roofing. This tragedy has led to powerful general Serbian protests that are inactive ongoing. They are held under the slogan “You have your hands in the blood” and “Corruption kills”.
During thousands of demonstrations, protesters accuse the government of corruption, crime, deficiency of transparency and neglect.
Protests in Serbian town of Nisz
New Sad station was besides renovated by companies from Hungary – without tender and under highly opaque contracts. The citizens of Vojvodina, demanding the resignation of the government and president Vučic, are increasingly courageously adding independency slogans. On social media, a fewer days after the tragedy began to speculate that if it were not for the centralist and intransparent actions of Belgrade, this tragedy would not have occurred. Many New-Sads wanted to make it clear that "they themselves, in their own country and with their own power would do it better and safer."
Some attempts to request greater autonomy or even independency have been appearing for respective years. But what we've been seeing lately has never happened before. The independency slogans can be seen not only on fancy graffiti, not only on the Internet, but besides during anti-government manifestations, mainly in the fresh Court. Portal 021.rs published photographs of a large banner with the inscription: "Republic of Wojwodina", which accompanied an anti-government demonstration for respective hours. More of these banners have been appearing lately.
The Marshal of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabić, as the first government representative, admitted that "the demands of the resignation of the authorities are accompanied by various forms of request for the independency of Voivodina".
Ješić and Bogdanović – troublemakers from the north
W Belgrade was besides identified as the “vilifiers”, the main organizers of pro-independence actions. It is Goran Ješić and Boban Bogdanović. The first, after respective arrests at the end of last year, was named by the well-known lawyer Sead Spahovici as a political prisoner. In present-day Serbia, this should not be surprising, as Ješić proclaimed in all respects that it would lead to the end of the Vučic regime. At the end of the year, he set up a fresh political task called Solidarnost. This experienced, demanding Serbia's entry into the European Union of policies is recognised in Belgrade as "a threat to Serbian territorial integrity". Ješić besides came forward to the authorities for saying that "Serbia should quit EXPO 2027 in Belgrade due to the fact that the country cannot afford it". The politician demands the full financial documentation of this large venture.
The media in Belgrade surpasses in offensive comments on Boban Bogdanović. This is launched by the Informer.rs portal: "Dreaming about the secession of Wojvodina Bogdanović is an extremist's pet from Kosovo Albina Kurti. He's a specified drug addict whose Croatian media have late caught savoring cocaine". The same portal reports that “the independency of Wojvodina will be declared by Bogdanovic”. The activity of Bogdanović on the X portal and its entries about Wojvodina's entry into the EU and NATO is profoundly afraid by president Vučić.
Sport besides identifies identity
How complex is today's ethnic-political-historic division of Wojwodina, they had the chance to see Polish footballers and their fans. Within six months, the Warsaw Legion, and then the Jagiellonian Białystok in the Conference Cup met with the Serbian and Volunteer FK TSC squad Bačka Topola. This Serbian league club from the 14-thousandth town of Bačka Topola was formed in 1913 by Hungarians. And the Hungarians didn't give him up for a second. present he is the eye in Prime Minister Orbán's head, and behind the main sponsor he has a MOL fuel tycoon.
For 2 hours, fans of “Jaga” were given an express lesson in the identity of their rivals. In an effort to delight the locals, Jagiellonia fans chanted what could be heard at any Hungarian stadium, or popular “Ria, ria Hungaria!”. "The mill" (the most bitter fans) rapidly responded the same way. However, this pro-Hungarian cry did not appeal to those sitting on the other grandstand, who even louder raised the white-stock-Hungarian slogan. Another political accent of the match in the heart of Wojwodina was the chanting by Polish fans popular besides on the Vistula with the slogan “Kosovo je Srbija”. This time there were no local protests; Bačka Topoli fans joined the Bialystokians.
The stands of the tiny stadium perfectly reflect the divisions, but besides the concerns of the full almost 2 millionth Voivodine community. due to the fact that Orbán’s frequent claim that “Hungary borders with itself” is simply a origin of concern for many Vojvodian people.
Possible scenarios
Before Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, subject to the force of the demonstrators, resigned, he made it clear that "Serbia's territorial integrity will not be affected". President Vučic's position is even more firm. On State Day, February 15, he organised a large rally of support for his party's policy. Crowds gathered in Sremska Mitrovica. The president shouted respective times and the crowd eagerly said, “Vojvodina eats Srbić!”.
Baner representing Serbia's president Alexandar Vucicia placed in front of the fresh Sad railway station (February 2025)
The Pragmatic people of Wojvodina realize what is behind it. Although it is hard for reliable polls, present more than for a real secession, most advocate extended autonomy, specified as in Yugoslav times. But, as the Wojvodian media informs, it is not excluded that the offensive and mocking speech of Belgrade will origin any Voivodians to show him their backs.
And they'll most likely be the most conscious who know that Wojvodina's been there for years. the richest and most economically developed part of Serbia and the country's granary. And at the same time, a place of gigantic investments. due to the fact that fresh Sad became the largest construction site in the Western Balkans. The opaque contracts and transactions of Serbia involving China and Russia are besides among the largest business projects in Voivodin. Proclamation of independency would cut those dangerous actions for the Voivodine.
Vučić the emergence of independency tendencies in Wojvodina is besides afraid for another reason. fresh Sad demands may awaken the dormant hopes of independency in Preszew Valley in the south of Serbia (80,000 inhabitants, 71% are Albanians). Another threat to Belgrade may prove to be Sandjak. It is simply a region of 360,000 inhabitants in the south of Serbia, just off the border with Montenegro. From 1991 to its autonomy, Sandżak is mostly inhabited by Boszniaków. Ethnic-territorial disputes in Serbia can so flare up at any time.
Can a tiny but rich pro-Western Voivodine become a Catalan of the Balkans? In a way, she already is. Like Madrid, and possibly more so, Belgrade knows very well that any territorial concessions can open the way to major changes on the map of Europe.
