Serbia demonstrations led by students require fresh elections in the midst of current violence

The anti-corruption demonstrations shaken the Serbian capital of Belgrade while demonstrators led by students clashed with supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic and his political party, demanding new elections.

Violent clashes between the anti -government demonstrators and the Serbian security forces intensified during last week, the demonstrators set fire to an office building belonging to the power in Novi Sad.

“You will see the total determination of the Serbian State. We will use everything at our disposal to restore law, peace and order,” said President Vucic in a speech to the nation on Saturday evening.

Serbia shaken by anti-corruption demonstrations after the construction tragedy

The demonstrators are held in clouds of tear gas during anti -government demonstrators in Belgrade on August 16, 2025. Clashes broke out in two Serbian cities of the fifth night of troubles at the end of August 16, 2025. (Oliver BUNIC / AFP via Getty Images)

Tens of thousands of students have been walking and protesting since December, demanding justice and responsibility after the death of 16 people in the collapse of a station in the Serbian city of Novi Sad. The canopy of the station collapsed on November 1 after the renovations led by two Chinese companies.

The government is accused of not implementing students’ requests, including the publication of all documents related to the reconstruction of the station. In his speech, Vucic said that justice should be served for all those responsible for the 16 victims of the collapse of the NOVI SAD railway resort.

Critics called the heavy answer used against the demonstrators. Alan Berset, secretary general of the European Council, said in A post on x that he was concerned about growing violence.

File: Students and anti -government demonstrators light up the pocket lamps on their mobile phone during a demonstration, which has become a national movement of change after the deadly collapse of Novi 2024 Novi Sad Roof, in Belgrade, Serbia, March 15, 2025. (Reuters / Igor Pavicevic)

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“I call calm and respect for the right to the Pacific Assembly.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Djuric, responded to criticism in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We respect and protect peaceful manifestations – this is part of our democratic fabric. But when the demonstrations turn into physical attacks and try to destabilize the country, the government has both the right and the duty to respond.”

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“This is by far the biggest threat that Vucic has been confronted in the past 13 years, and it is very unlikely that Vucic summarizes the storm without election,” said Helena Ivanov, principal researcher of the Henry Jackson Society, at Fox News Digital.

“The country does not work and the situation degenerates dangerously. The only way to get out of the problem is to hold free and fair elections as soon as possible.” Everything else will further destabilize the situation, which could have devastating consequences, “added Ivanov.

The government is accused of not meeting one of the requirements of origin students, including the publication of all documents related to the reconstruction of the station.

Serbian anti-riot police come up against anti-government demonstrators in Belgrade on August 13, 2025. (Oliver BUNIC / AFP via Getty Images)

This originally started as spontaneous protests expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s failed response to rail disaster transformed into a movement opposed to general corruption and the erosion of the rule of law under Vucic.

One of the biggest events in the history of Serbia took place on March 15, with nearly 350,000 people gathered in Slavija square in the center of Belgrade.

Serbia president Aleksandar Vucic General Assembly of the United Nations at the UN headquarters in New York in 2019. Vucic said he had accidentally voted against Russia in a Ukrainian resolution because he was “probably tired”. (Reuters)

The Minister of Serbia, the primordial, Milos Vacevic, announced his resignation in January in the midst of national demonstrations, making him the highest -end member of the government to resign.

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“Serbian students presented several requests, the first and most important being the publication of the documentation concerning the reconstruction of Novi Sad station, where the collapse of the canopy has killed 16 people. To date, no one has been held responsible,” said Filip Ubović, a student from the University of Belgrade and the protest demonstration in Belgrade, said Fox News Digital.

Ubovic said that the demonstrations were originally aimed at influencing the institutions responsible for respecting the rule of law, not directly against the ruling party. As the government has not held officials responsible for the tragedy or to disclose information on the collapse of the canopy, the demonstrators realized that it was time to ask for elections.