BELGRADE, Serbia — On Sunday, a significant number of demonstrators gathered at Slavija Square in the heart of Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, to protest against President Aleksandar Vucic and his administration. This rally, fueled by weeks of public outcry primarily led by university students, highlighted the escalating discontent with the government’s hold on power.
This event was organized by students and farmer unions as part of a broader effort to seek accountability for the tragic incident that occurred on November 1, when a canopy at a northern railway station collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals. A striking banner during the rally read, “We are all under the canopy,” symbolizing the shared sense of loss and demand for justice among the crowd.
Similar protests also took place in the cities of Nis and Kragujevac. The Belgrade gathering began with a poignant moment of silence lasting 15 minutes to honor the victims, followed by the powerful chant of, “You have blood on your hands!” Many protesters attribute the disaster to prevalent corruption and poor construction practices associated with the renovation of the railway station in Novi Sad, which underwent two questionable renovations conducted by Chinese state companies. Demonstrators are insisting that President Vucic and other accountable officials must be held to justice.
Prominent actors and cultural figures, including the renowned actor Bane Trifunovic, were among those who joined the demonstrations, with Trifunovic referring to the protest as “a festival of freedom.” Meanwhile, President Vucic showcased his determination by inaugurating a new section of a highway in central Serbia on the same day. He dismissed the opposition’s calls for a transitional government and accused them of exploiting student movements in a bid for power. “We will beat them again,” Vucic declared, asserting that his political foes lack direction and rely on “someone’s children” for their agenda.
In an effort to mitigate the protests, Vucic has promoted enticing loan offers aimed at helping young people buy apartments. He has also been working to attract skilled professionals who have emigrated from Serbia in search of better opportunities abroad. In response to the tragic incident in Novi Sad, authorities arrested 13 individuals, including a government minister, but the minister’s subsequent release fueled public skepticism regarding the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The protests, which have persisted for weeks, underscore the broader dissatisfaction with Vucic’s governance. Though he claims to aspire for Serbia’s integration into the European Union, critics accuse him of undermining democratic rights rather than promoting them. Subsequently, opposition parties have proposed the establishment of a transitional government that could oversee fair elections in light of past allegations regarding vote rigging.
To address the escalating student unrest, the government has chosen to extend the winter school holidays by nearly a week, a move aimed at alleviating tensions. University classes across the nation have been halted for weeks, with students staging sit-ins within their faculties. Recently, high school students have also joined the protests, which have occasionally turned violent due to clashes with pro-government groups.
A group of farmers reported that police confiscated their tractor as they made their way into central Belgrade for the protest. The students have garnered widespread support from various sectors, including their professors, journalists, legal experts, and other notable public figures. Initially, Vucic accused the protesting students of being motivated by financial incentives but later claimed that he had addressed their demands, including the release of documentation regarding the mentioned renovations.