German public broadcaster ZDF reports that the tragic collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station has evolved into a powerful symbol—not only of a state in decay but of an entire political system that many Serbians see as corrupt, arrogant, and contemptuous of its own citizens.
According to ZDF, the protests that erupted following the disaster have now entered their second year and taken on a new dimension, with unprecedented participation from across society — students, families, and ordinary citizens who had previously remained politically disengaged.
The broadcaster notes that the restoration of the collapsed canopy was awarded “without a transparent tender, to companies close to the government,” and that, so far, there has been “no sign of judicial accountability.”
ZDF writes that President Aleksandar Vučić is facing mounting pressure. “His government is trying to fight back with conspiracy theories, counter-protests, and repressive measures — but its support is visibly eroding,” the report says.
Belgrade-based political analyst Srđan Cvijić told ZDF that the mass protest movement has severely shaken the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) electoral base. He emphasized that young Serbians, once considered politically apathetic, have now become “the driving force of democratic resistance.”
ZDF further observes that public frustration over the Novi Sad tragedy has merged with widespread discontent about Serbia’s economic and political conditions — including high inflation, an ongoing energy crisis, and a growing sense of hopelessness. One protester told the network, “People no longer have trust — not in politics, not in the judiciary, not in the media.”
The German broadcaster adds that the European Union, long restrained in its dealings with Vučić, has recently taken a sharper tone. The European Parliament has described Serbia’s governance as an “autocratic regime”, and Brussels is now closely watching the upcoming European Commission report on Serbia’s democratic standards.
ZDF concludes that while calls for new elections are growing louder, the government remains hesitant. Cvijić warns that Vučić will only permit elections “when he is certain he can manipulate them.”
