Serbia protests demand reform and justice

Thousands of students and supporters converged in Novi Sad for a major demonstration marking the eve of the first anniversary of the railway station roof collapse that killed 15 people, in a show of solidarity that has expanded into a nationwide movement demanding political change. The procession included farmers on tractors, motorcyclists and cyclists, with crowds waving Serbian flags and lighting flares as they formed a convoy through the city. Organisers said the student movement has reignited public engagement across Serbia, with many participants expressing renewed hope after years of political disillusionment.

The protest movement began after the November 2024 canopy collapse at Novi Sad station, which critics attribute to corruption and faulty renovation work. University students and professors initially mobilised on campuses and then staged city‑wide marches pressing for accountability, transparency and systemic reform. The movement has since broadened into a coalition that includes teachers, taxi drivers, rural communities and others who feel marginalized; taxi drivers notably organised free rides to bring students from the provinces to participate.

Demonstrators, who have been marching to Novi Sad from multiple cities, are calling for a snap election aimed at unseating President Aleksandar Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, challenging a decade‑plus hold on power. Participants carried banners reading “We deserve better” and chanted for a society that values knowledge and work over obedience and silence. Many protesters described their actions as a civic awakening, crediting students with restoring belief in the possibility of change and greater civic participation.

A major commemoration outside the railway station will feature 16 minutes of silence followed by student speeches, symbolically marking the lives lost and the movement’s ongoing demands. While the protests have visibly shaken the government and shifted public discourse, analysts caution that converting street momentum into institutional reform remains difficult. Protesters say their aim extends beyond replacing leaders to rebuilding institutions and creating lasting accountability. For now, the demonstrations reflect a transition from resignation to active civic engagement, with participants voicing determination to sustain pressure for systemic change.