Opposition forces have been demanding early elections after the Novi Sad train station collapse.
On Saturday, approximately 70,000 Serbian citizens rallied across 75 cities in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, while simultaneously rejecting the student-led anti-government protests that have persisted for nine months, which have called for early elections, reports 24brussels.
Slogans such as “No more blockades,” “Peace and stability,” and “Enough violence” adorned banners, embodying a call for a return to normalcy, an end to opposition protests, and a cessation of road blockades.
Demonstrations supporting Vucic took place in major Serbian cities, excluding Belgrade and Novi Sad, where opposition sentiment remains robust. In Ub, Vucic received applause from his supporters and reaffirmed his openness to dialogue with opposition groups.
The opposition protests ignited after the tragic collapse of a canopy in November 2024 at Novi Sad’s train station, which resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals. Since then, these anti-government sentiments have spread to various cities, including Belgrade, Požega, Valjevo, Bor, Zrenjanin, Ivanjica, Kostolac, Kragujevac, Smederevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Sombor, Srbobran, Inđija, and Obrenovac.
Recently, Serbian police detained 19 demonstrators, prompting students to demand their immediate release, alleging that the arrests were made without sufficient evidence, resulting in their pretrial detention under severe charges.
Protesters continue to call for full transparency regarding the reconstruction documents of the train station, thorough investigations, accountability for those responsible, and the release of detainees. Despite the Serbian government’s recent publication of some reconstruction documents and invitations for constructive dialogue, the student-led movement shows no signs of waning.
The Justice Ministry has labeled the ongoing unrest as an assault on constitutional order, cautioning that any acts of violence, intimidation, or threats motivated by political agendas will be met with legal consequences. Vucic has characterized the anti-government protests as a part of a “color revolution” orchestrated and funded from external sources.
