Thousands gather in Belgrade square to protest against Serbia's populist president

Photo: Reuters 

On Sunday, tens of thousands of people gathered in a central square in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, to join a massive protest against the country’s populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, and his government. The protest is part of ongoing demonstrations led by university students, challenging President Vucic’s stronghold on power.

The rally occurred at Slavija Square, one of the biggest protests recently. Students and farmer unions organized it, and the crowd demanded accountability for a tragic incident on November 1. On that day, a canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad collapsed, killing 15 people.
Before the protest began, smaller rallies were held in other cities like Nis and Kragujevac. The gathering in Belgrade started with a 15-minute silence to honour the victims of the collapse. Later, the protesters shouted slogans like, “You have blood on your hands!”

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Many people in Serbia believe the canopy collapse happened because of corruption and poor construction work. The railway station in Novi Sad has been renovated twice in recent years as part of large projects involving Chinese state companies. Protesters are demanding that President Vucic and others responsible for the tragedy face justice.

Serbia’s popular actors also joined the rally. Actor Bane Trifunovic called the event “a festival of freedom,” emphasizing the need for change in the country.
While the protests were happening, President Vucic inaugurated a new section of highway in central Serbia. He dismissed the opposition’s demands for a transitional government and accused them of using students to try to take over power. “We will beat them again,” Vucic said, accusing the opposition of exploiting young people for political purposes.

In response to the Novi Sad tragedy, prosecutors have arrested 13 people, including a government minister. However, the release of the minister has raised public doubts about the fairness of the investigation.

These protests are not just about the railway station tragedy. They also show growing dissatisfaction with Vucic’s leadership. While Vucic says he wants Serbia to join the European Union, critics accuse him of limiting democratic freedoms instead of promoting them.

Opposition parties have suggested that forming a transitional government to organize free and fair elections could ease political tensions. They have also accused the ruling party of rigging previous elections.

The protests have gained momentum as students across Serbia camp out in their university buildings, suspending classes for weeks. Recently, high school students have also joined the demonstrations. The Serbian government has even extended winter school holidays by a week to address the growing unrest.

In some instances, violence has broken out during the protests, with pro-government supporters trying to disrupt the gatherings. On Sunday, a group of farmers who drove a tractor into central Belgrade said police confiscated their vehicle before the protest.

Despite the challenges, the students have received widespread support from professors, lawyers, media figures, and other citizens. While President Vucic initially accused the students of protesting for money, he later claimed to have fulfilled their demands by releasing documents related to the Novi Sad renovation project.
For now, the protests show no signs of stopping, as people from all walks of life continue to demand justice, accountability, and democratic reforms in Serbia.

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