Protesters oppose honourary doctorate for Zagreb Mayor

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the National Theatre in Zagreb on Tuesday to protest a proposition to award Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić with an honourary doctorate.

Some twelve-hundred students and academics have signed an open letter to the University of Zagreb Senate calling on them to reject the motion. Event organizer Stjepan Perko said the honour was a farce which would discredit the university and its graduates: "First and foremost, this protest is for all those who are against this move, who feel ashamed, and for those people who may no longer value their degrees - which they rightfully earned."

University Rector Damir Boras called on the protesters to be "respectful", adding that they had "the right to freely express their dissatisfaction". At the same time, Boras said the motion to grant the mayor the honour was political and had nothing to do with academics.

For her part, Education Minister Blaženka Divjak said she fully supported the protesters to express their dissatisfaction, and that it was "now up to the University Senate to listen to the arguments and make a decision."

Source: HRT