Tens of thousands gathered this afternoon in Belgrade for a major protest against Serbia’s populist president Aleksandar Vučić and his government, whose strong rule has been challenged by weeks of street protests led by students, reported the Associated Press (AP).
The rally, held at Trg Slavija in Belgrade—one of the largest in recent years—was called by students and farmers’ unions. It is part of a broader social movement demanding accountability for the collapse of a tent at a railway station in the north of the country on November 1, which resulted in 15 deaths. The AP also reported that smaller demonstrations were held in Nish and Kragujevc.
Many in Serbia blame “widespread corruption and irregularities” in the construction of the railway station building in Novi Sad, which has been renovated twice in recent years as part of dubious mega-projects involving Chinese state companies. Demonstrators are calling for Vučić and those responsible to face justice for the tent collapse, added the AP.
The protest was joined by well-known Serbian actors and filmmakers, with actor Bane Trifunović describing the rally as a “celebration of freedom.”
The French news agency AFP reported in its coverage of the protest that the Serbian government has been under pressure from protests for more than seven weeks following the tragedy in Novi Sad, with many protesters accusing the authorities of corruption and lack of control.
The rally in Belgrade, organized by students, began with 15 minutes of silence, dedicated to the 15 victims. Farmers, actors, and people from across Serbia were also present.
Protesters occupied Trg Slavija and blocked nearly the entire city center. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and the mayor of Novi Sad following the accident, as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the incident.
Students are also calling for criminal charges against those who attacked them during previous protests, and they demand the removal of charges against their colleagues who participated in the rallies.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Saturday that he would not yield to the protesters. At the same time, he encouraged the provision of subsidies for the purchase of apartments or houses for young people, an initiative many saw as an attempt to calm tensions, according to France Press.
AP reported that today, Vučić inaugurated a newly built section of highway in central Serbia, where he stated that he would not surrender to opposition demands for a transitional government and accused his opponents of using students in an attempt to seize power.
