Serbia: Police Clash with Protesters Demanding Early Elections

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on Saturday, demanding an end to President Aleksandar Vucic's 12-year rule and calling for early parliamentary elections. The protest, largely peaceful, saw clashes erupt later as groups of young demonstrators split off and confronted police.

Critics accuse the populist leader Vucic of consolidating power and weakening democratic institutions. The current protest movement gained momentum about 18 months ago following a tragedy where 16 people died when a newly renovated railway station roof collapsed, an incident blamed on corruption and negligence. During Saturday's rally, participants voiced accusations of government crime and corruption, demanding a return to the rule of law.

Riot police responded to the clashes by deploying tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the demonstrators, who reportedly threw flares, rocks, and bottles. Organizers also accused the state rail operator of attempting to prevent people from traveling to the capital for the protest, citing a bomb scare that led to train cancellations. This rally followed a massive anti-government protest in March 2025 that drew an estimated 300,000 people.

The student movement that underpins the protests emerged after the 2024 collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad, which killed sixteen people. The incident, occurring shortly after renovations on a Chinese-funded project, was attributed to poor workmanship and inadequate oversight, sparking public outrage and leading to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.

Meanwhile, Vucic's supporters gathered outside the presidency building, which he established as a "human shield" against protesters. Pro-government media have intensified rhetoric against critics, labeling them as terrorists and foreign agents. Serbia is pursuing EU membership but maintains close ties with Russia and China, and its democratic backsliding under Vucic could impact its accession prospects.