Student-led protests erupt in Belgrade over election demands

Demonstrators Gather in Belgrade, Calling for Elections and Justice

A large crowd of protesters gathered in central Belgrade on Saturday, carrying banners and wearing T-shirts with the “Students win” motto. The demonstration was organized by a youth movement that has been active since November 2024, when a train station tragedy in northern Serbia killed 16 people.

The event comes more than a year after protests first began, with demonstrators demanding accountability for the incident. The government has sought to rein in mass demonstrations, but the size of Saturday’s turnout suggests that dissent remains strong.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had previously attempted to clamp down on the movement, and many in Serbia blamed the concrete canopy collapse at the station on alleged corruption-fuelled negligence during renovation work carried out with Chinese companies.

On Saturday, the state railway company cancelled all trains to and from Belgrade, which appeared to be an effort to prevent some people from travelling to the capital. In a video posted on Instagram, Vucic stated that protesters had shown their “violent nature” and accused them of being unable to stand political opponents.

The students at the demonstration demanded early elections and the rule of law, accusing the government of crime and corruption. They plan to challenge Vucic in this year’s elections, which they hope will unseat his right-wing populist government.

Vucic had previously stated that the parliamentary elections could be held between September and November. Clashes were reported near a park camp of Vucic loyalists outside the Serbian presidency building.

The Serbian president has faced international scrutiny for his hardline tactics against demonstrators, including arbitrary arrests and excessive force. The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, criticized Serbia’s government in a report after visiting the country last week, citing reports of police protecting unidentified attackers of journalists and protesters.

The situation remains tense, with many in Serbia concerned about the impact of democratic backsliding on the country’s future.

Source: Al Jazeera