Serbia: Thousands protest, demand early elections after disaster

Thousands gathered in Serbia's second-largest city, Novi Sad, to protest the government and demand early elections. The demonstrations, fueled by public anger over a fatal train station disaster in 2024 that killed 16 people, have become one of the most significant social movements to challenge Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party.

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All else is empty words without free and fair elections.

Protesters argue that the train station tragedy is a symptom of the government's poor management of construction projects and widespread corruption. They also accuse Vučić and his officials of election fraud, violence against opposition, suppressing press freedom, and links to organized crime. These allegations are consistently denied by Vučić and his allies.

Activists from student movements are mobilizing to counter Vučić and his party in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, currently scheduled for 2027. However, Vučić has hinted at the possibility of holding elections sooner. "All else is empty words without free and fair elections," stated Sanja Belic, a university lecturer from Novi Sad, during a speech at the rally.

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show no anger towards anyone

Meanwhile, Vučić announced that his supporters would hold a rally on June 27. Addressing his supporters, he urged them to "show no anger towards anyone" and to "gather under the Serbian flag."

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gather under the Serbian flag.