The student-led protests in Serbia, sparked by a tragic railway station roof collapse that resulted in significant loss of life, have gained momentum, and President Aleksandar Vucic is facing mounting pressure. Despite Prime Minister Milos Vucevic’s resignation in an attempt to stabilize the situation, the protests have not subsided.
In November of last year, a roof collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia, killing 15 people. Thousands of citizens took to the streets to demand accountability from the government, with students leading the protests. For months, students blocked roads and occupied universities in protest. Last week, the protests intensified, becoming the largest in the country’s history. The demonstrations have spread across more than a hundred provincial towns and villages.
Dejan Bagarik, a student who participated in the protests, said, “We are witnessing the largest protest in Serbia’s history. This has never happened before. People are genuinely involved because they are tired of the corruption. This government is disastrously corrupt.”
The protests, which began in November with strikes and rallies, reached their peak on Saturday, as people flooded the streets to oppose the government’s handling of the disaster. Protesters claim that the government has refused to take responsibility for the incident. They argue that the railway station was built in collaboration with a Chinese consortium, yet no attention was given to its safety.
Human rights lawyer Cedomir Stojkovic filed a criminal complaint in connection with the collapse, leading to an investigation by prosecutors. He stated, “There was no transparency in this construction. There was no public tender for the contract. After the accident, the investigation was inadequate, and the government tried to cover everything up.” Stojkovic added, “People want President Vucic and this government to resign.”
However, President Vucic has suggested that foreign powers are behind the protests. He stated, “Our country is under attack, both from abroad and from within.”
To contain the protests, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, a close ally of Vucic, resigned. However, this did not bring any change to the protests led by students and the public. Eventually, the confidential documents related to the railway station collapse were released, and the government announced that the protesters’ demands would be addressed. Despite this, many believe that the protests will not end anytime soon.
The growing unemployment rate in Serbia is adding fuel to the protests. Many young people are being forced to leave the country in search of work, which has intensified their anger against corruption.
Last year, Vucic faced protests over allegations of election fraud, but only opposition parties were involved. This time, students and the general public have joined the protests.
Opposition parties have called for an interim government, arguing that only such a government can create an environment suitable for free and fair elections. However, Vucic has rejected this demand, stating that the people of Serbia “want to see ordinary, responsible people in power, not politicians who have lost the trust of the people.”
According to Liberty News, Vucic also stated that he is considering three to four candidates as potential successors to Prime Minister Vucevic. However, he is open to other suitable candidates as well.
LND/SAKIB
