More than 100,000 people gathered in Belgrade on Saturday for one of the largest anti-government protests in Serbia in recent years. The rally was sparked by the November 2023 collapse of a concrete awning at a train station in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people.
The student-led movement chanted slogans and carried banners calling for change, which ended with a 15-minute long moment of silence for the victims. Protesters accused the government of widespread corruption, negligence, and failure to enforce safety regulations, demanding accountability for the tragedy. While the protest remained largely peaceful, sporadic clashes were reported between demonstrators and pro-government supporters.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged the size of the demonstration, and said that the government had heard the people’s message. He hinted that early elections could be on the horizon.
