Is Serbia Facing Its Own 1968 Moment? The Spectator’s Analysis of Student Protests

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Serbia has been gripped by months of student protests following the tragic collapse of a concrete roof at Novi Sad’s railway station in November 2024, which claimed 15 lives.

What began as an outburst of anger over the disaster has evolved into a broader movement demanding accountability and an end to systemic corruption, which many blame for the faulty infrastructure at the recently renovated station.

The protests have drawn comparisons to May 1968, not due to a global cultural shift, but because of inventive student tactics, sit-ins, and daily street blockades, The Spectator reports.

Political Fallout: Resignations and Concessions

The demonstrations reached a boiling point this week with the resignations of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Đurić. President Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) now face their most serious political challenge since coming to power in 2012.

Despite initial attempts to downplay the movement, global attention has intensified, with student-led marches of up to 100,000 people in Belgrade. The protests have gained support from farmers, IT professionals, doctors, lawyers, and even sports icons like Novak Đokovic.

“My support always goes to young people, students, and all those who belong to the future of our country,” Đokovic said at a press conference in Melbourne.

On January 27, students blocked a major Belgrade intersection for 24 hours, joined by professors, farmers on tractors, bikers, and eventually, what seemed like the entire city.

State media tried to dismiss the protests as a student party, but later that night, President Vučić appeared on national TV and gave in to several demands:

  • Releasing hundreds of documents related to the Novi Sad station’s renovation
  • Granting amnesty to arrested students and professors
  • Announcing a cabinet reshuffle, including the dismissal of ministers directly tied to the scandal

One of the most notable arrests was that of former Transport Minister Goran Vesić, who now faces charges of endangering public safety.

A Government Under Pressure

Despite attempts to frame demonstrators as foreign-funded agitators, the government has had to admit failure. The scale and persistence of the protests have clearly unsettled Vučić, who may have expected them to fade away, as happened with past protests against lithium mining and gun violence in 2023.

Instead, protests have spread beyond Belgrade to Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Čačak, Subotica, and even Serbian diaspora hubs like London, Paris, New York, and Toronto.

Violent attacks on activists by government-linked groups have only fueled further outrage. On January 28, students marched from Belgrade to Novi Sad, signaling their determination to escalate.

Elections on the Horizon?

With a new prime minister needed, Vučić must decide whether to appoint one via parliament or call new elections.

Holding snap elections has been a go-to strategy for Vučić, allowing him to reaffirm his legitimacy amid a weakened opposition. However, students remain independent of opposition parties, making it unclear whether an election would defuse the movement.

While government concessions may ease tensions temporarily, the underlying public discontent suggests Serbia’s crisis is far from over.

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