Students in Serbia threaten disobedience: Vucic wobbles!

Students in Serbia threaten disobedience: Vucic wobbles!

Novi Sad, Serbien - In Serbia, the pressure on President Aleksandar Vučić is growing as a result of persistent protests that have been challenging the government since last autumn. The protests were triggered by a tragic event: the collapse of a station vordach in Novi Sad, in which 16 people lost their lives on November 1, 2024. Critics attribute this misfortune to systemic corruption and botch in construction, since the building was only recently renovated and put back into operation in July 2024. These incidents have triggered a wave of outrage, which have now resulted in numerous demonstrations and for six months in a blockade of the universities. According to Kosmo, the protesters, which are mainly organized by students, have already held thousands of rallies and demand new elections and responsibility from the government.

The resistance of the students is particularly remarkable because they strive for an independent movement without strongly binding to the traditional opposition. "We are not political prisoners, but students who want to make a change," said a protest participant. Nevertheless, the protest movement is faced with resistance. Vučić and his Serbian progress party (SNS) try to identify the protests as controlled from abroad and repeatedly refused new elections. The critical view of the media was also influenced by attacks on journalists and the control of the state media, which further reinforced the unrest.

massive number of participants and state reactions

The greatest demonstration took place in Belgrade in mid -March 2025 and is estimated at around 275,000 to 325,000 participants. However, this number was estimated by the Ministry of the Interior with around 100,000, which reinforced the tensions. Collections between supporters of the government and demonstrators were reported on the protests, which further fueled the tense situation. In the past few months, the authorities have also charged twelve people in connection with the roof collapse, including the former Minister of Building Goran Vesić, whose detention has now been suspended.

The protest movement now announced civil disobedience if the demands for new elections are not met. Independent surveys show that about two thirds of the population support the protests. Nevertheless, there are very different opinions on the origins and motifs of the protests. In addition, the government recently announced an anti-corruption campaign, while Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and two ministers resigned due to developments. These resignations were interpreted by Vučić in response to an attack on a student in Novi Sad. Despite the political turbulence, the government continues to adhere to controversial major projects, including Expo 2027 and lithium funding.

The challenge for the regime

The persistent protests are a serious challenge for the authoritarian regime of the President, which has been in power for 13 years. According to Deutschlandfunk Opposition, combined with a deep grip in the structure of the political system. Serbia is also under pressure as an EU accession candidate, but progress in the accession process is stagnating, especially in the area of ​​the rule of law. Forecasts indicate that the regime could possibly use violence to stay in power.

Overall, the situation in Serbia is extremely tense, and the question remains whether President Vučić will be able to get this tumultuous wave under control. The pressure from the population and the international community grows, while the protesters are determined to fight for their rights.