Tens of Thousands Protest in Serbia Against Government
Tens of thousands of people streamed into a central square in Serbia’s capital on Sunday for a big rally against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, whose tight grip on power has been challenged by weeks of street protests led by university students.
The rally at Belgrade’s Slavija Square, one of the largest in recent years, was called by students and farmer unions. It was part of a wider movement demanding accountability over the Nov. 1 collapse of a canopy at a railway station in the country’s north that killed 15 people.
Serbia’s Students and Farmers Unite
Smaller rallies were also held in the cities of Nis and Kragujevac. The rally in Belgrade started with a 15-minute silence for the victims, and later chants of "You have blood on your hands!" were heard. Many in Serbia blame the collapse on widespread corruption and sloppy work on the railway station building in the city of Novi Sad that was twice renovated in recent years as part of questionable mega projects involving Chinese state companies. Protesters demand that Vucic and those responsible face justice.
Government Response
In a show of confidence, the Serbian president on Sunday inaugurated a section of a newly built highway in central Serbia. Vucic said he wouldn’t budge to opposition demands for a transitional government and accused his opponents of using students to try to seize power. "We will beat them again," he said. "They (the opposition) don’t know what to do but to use someone’s children."
Investigation and Protests
Prosecutors have arrested 13 people over the Novi Sad tragedy, including a government minister whose release later fueled public skepticism about the honesty of the investigation. The weekslong protests reflect wider discontent with Vucic’s rule. The populist leader formally says he wants to take Serbia into the European Union but has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms rather than advancing them.
Support from Across the Nation
Serbia’s popular theater and movie actors joined the protest, with actor Bane Trifunovic describing Sunday’s rally as "a festival of freedom." The government has extended school winter holidays by starting them nearly a week earlier to grapple with widening student protests. Classes at universities throughout the Balkan country have been suspended for weeks with students camping inside their faculty buildings. In recent days, more high school students have joined the movement. Occasional violence has erupted when pro-government thugs tried to disrupt the protests.
Conclusion
The protests in Serbia have been ongoing for weeks, with students and farmers united in their demand for accountability and justice. The government’s response has been met with skepticism, with many accusing Vucic of using his power to silence opposition and suppress dissent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the main issue driving the protests in Serbia?
A: The main issue is the collapse of a canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people and has been attributed to widespread corruption and sloppy work.
Q: What is the response of the Serbian government to the protests?
A: The government has accused opposition parties of using students to try to seize power and has refused to budge to demands for a transitional government.
Q: How have other groups responded to the protests?
A: Serbia’s popular theater and movie actors, as well as professors, media personalities, and prominent individuals, have joined the protest, showing support for the students and farmers.
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