Massive Belgrade Rally Demands Serbia’s Early Elections \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Opponents of Serbia’s President Vucic—led by university students—filled Belgrade’s Slavija Square demanding immediate parliamentary elections. The protests, sparked by a deadly rail canopy collapse blamed on government corruption, entered their eighth month. Despite government pressure, independent media crackdowns, and pro‑Vucic counter‑rallies, demonstrators remain resolute.
Quick Looks
- Pro‑election chants dominate: Tens of thousands in Belgrade demand early parliamentary polls.
- Trigger from tragedy: Students ignited the protests after a deadly rail station canopy collapse.
- Tension escalates: Pro‑Vucic counter‑demos, arrests, and travel bans amid rally.
Deep Look
In a dramatic escalation of public discontent, tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators flooded the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, calling for the immediate resignation of Serbia’s populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, and demanding early parliamentary elections. The rally, primarily driven by university students, marked a climactic point in nearly eight months of continuous protests that have shaken Vucic’s political stronghold.
The protest centered around Slavija Square, one of Belgrade’s major landmarks, where the crowd spilled into surrounding streets. Protesters chanted “We want elections!” while waving banners and Serbian flags, signaling their resolve despite increased government suppression in recent months. The overwhelming turnout underscored the growing impatience with the current administration’s refusal to heed public demands for accountability and democratic reforms.
These widespread demonstrations were sparked by a tragic event last year—a catastrophic collapse of a newly renovated railway station canopy in November that resulted in the deaths of 16 people. The incident, widely attributed to government corruption and negligence, ignited public outrage and catalyzed a student-led movement demanding transparency, oversight, and responsibility in state infrastructure projects. The protest movement quickly grew beyond that initial grievance, becoming a rallying cry against what demonstrators describe as deep-rooted corruption and autocracy under Vucic’s leadership.
One protester, Darko Kovacevic, voiced a sentiment that resonated with many in the crowd: “We are here today because we cannot take it any more. This has been going on for too long. We are mired in corruption.”
Despite persistent public pressure, Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party have firmly rejected calls for early elections. Instead, they have dismissed the protesters’ demands, labeling the movement as an orchestrated attempt to incite unrest by foreign actors—claims made without evidence. Vucic’s administration has gone a step further, clamping down on dissent by targeting striking university professors, pressuring independent media outlets, and intensifying surveillance and censorship across public platforms.
In a show of force and control, the government has also resorted to more direct interventions. Ahead of Saturday’s demonstration, authorities arrested several individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the government, while banning entry into the country for several Croatian nationals and a Montenegrin theater director. On the same day, Serbia’s railway company abruptly suspended train services, citing an unverified bomb threat—a move critics interpreted as an effort to prevent more protesters from reaching Belgrade.
Still, the demonstrators pressed on. Police, under government control, estimated around 36,000 participants at the start of the event, although independent estimates suggest the actual number may have been higher. The protest’s timing on St. Vitus Day, a culturally significant holiday marking the 14th-century Battle of Kosovo, further elevated its symbolic weight. During the rally, speakers invoked themes of national pride and resistance, drawing historical parallels to Serbia’s long-standing struggles for sovereignty and justice. The symbolism was a poignant reminder of how national identity can be both a unifying force and a political tool—echoing narratives that were weaponized during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
The protest movement is not without its counterforces. Hours before the rally began, Vucic’s party mobilized supporters from across the country, busing them into the capital. Many wore shirts reading “We won’t give up Serbia” and set up camp in central Belgrade, reinforcing the president’s base of support and echoing his calls for stability and order. These loyalists have maintained a visible presence in the city since mid-March, when they established a pro-government encampment outside the president’s office.
During Saturday’s events, President Vucic maintained a public posture of calm and authority. He presided over a ceremony distributing state awards to artists and journalists, telling reporters that “the state will be defended and thugs brought to justice.” His message was clear: the government remains unyielding.
Vucic’s critics argue that his decade-long rule has led Serbia into an increasingly authoritarian state. Although he publicly supports EU accession, his administration has shown greater alignment with Russia and China while restricting political freedoms and controlling the media landscape. Dissenting voices claim that the democratic backsliding under Vucic’s watch has turned Serbia into an illiberal democracy—where elections occur but checks and balances are undermined.
Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections are officially slated for 2027, but protesters insist that waiting two more years under the current government is not an option. They see early elections as a necessary corrective to restore democratic integrity and stop what they believe is a rapid erosion of civic trust and institutional competence.
This weekend’s turnout, one of the largest in months, signals that public discontent is far from extinguished. Despite government tactics to discourage dissent, including alleged use of sonic weapons at prior protests—an accusation officials have denied—the movement shows no sign of retreat. For many, this is not just about politics but about reclaiming a future free from corruption, fear, and authoritarian rule.
Massive Belgrade Rally Massive Belgrade Rally
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