Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is expected to visit Novi Sad on Friday, September 4, nearly 22 months after the collapse of the city’s railway station canopy and following at least seven previous announcements that he would hold a major gathering there.
According to N1, the latest announcement has prompted competing preparations. Supporters of Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) are expected to gather in his support, while local citizen assemblies are organizing a separate protest to send a message that the president is not welcome in the city.
Vučić has repeatedly announced plans to visit Novi Sad over the past year and a half.
In February 2025, he said he would “take 15 minutes to walk around Novi Sad.” In June, he discussed holding a rally in the city on June 28 or July 5, while in August he again declared: “We are going to Novi Sad. Novi Sad deserves it.”
The fact-checking outlet Istinomer counted at least seven such announcements over the previous 22 months.
Despite those statements, Vučić has made only one publicly visible appearance in Novi Sad during that period — in a social media video in which he was seen eating an “index” sandwich, a popular local specialty.
This time, however, local officials say the visit is actually planned.
Novi Sad Mayor Žarko Mićin said that people had been contacting the city committee of the SNS and wanted to be in Freedom Square on Friday in support of the president.
At the same time, Novi Sad citizen assemblies are preparing their own gathering.
Mihajlo Ždrnja, a representative of a local assembly, said residents were angered by the events surrounding Vučić’s recent appearance in Užice, alleging that the authorities had relied on large numbers of police officers and people from criminal structures to intimidate residents.
The assemblies are calling for a peaceful and dignified protest, although organizers say they remain concerned about possible clashes or police intervention.
“We experienced the use of illegal chemical agents on September 5,” Ždrnja said, adding that he feared a similar response but hoped the gathering would pass peacefully.
Why Novi Sad, and why now?
The planned visit comes as political tensions remain high in Novi Sad, a city that has become one of the main centers of anti-government protests following the railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people.
Political scientist Duško Radosavljević suggested that Vučić’s decision to finally appear in the city could reflect growing political pressure.
“He has painted himself into a corner. Wherever he moves, something is left behind,” Radosavljević said, according to N1.
Journalist Aleksandar Latas of Danas described the situation in Novi Sad as highly tense, with citizen assemblies calling on people from across Serbia to attend the protest.
He also predicted a significant turnout on both sides, noting that SNS rallies are generally tightly organized and can involve public-sector workers as well as groups accused by protesters of intimidating or physically confronting opponents.
The exact format and timing of the pro-government gathering have not been officially announced. Local reports suggest it could take place from around 6 p.m. at Freedom Square, while some local businesses have reportedly said they will not operate outdoor terraces in the area that day.
Given the expected demonstrations and possible road blockades, there are doubts that Vučić will be able to make the leisurely walk through Novi Sad that he first promised more than a year ago.
Instead, his long-delayed arrival is likely to turn into another major test of Serbia’s increasingly polarized political environment.
