EditSerbia’s streets ignite: nationwide protests demand early elections as Vučić resists
President Aleksandar Vučić has rejected calls for a snap poll, buying time until 2027
Serbia is ablaze with unrest as a defiant student-led movement sweeps across the nation, demanding early elections and accountability for a tragic railway station collapse that killed 16 people in Novi Sad in November 2024. Thousands rallied in over 30 cities on 1 June under the banner “Arise Serbia,” clashing with President Aleksandar Vučić’s refusal to hold snap elections before 2027.
Vučić has rejected calls for early parliamentary elections, delaying them until 2027 to prioritize preparations for Expo 2027 in Belgrade, state media reported on 1 June. Speaking in Zajčar, Vučić dismissed opposition demands with confidence, predicting a crushing victory over his rivals. “The opposition’s mistakes have buried their chances,” he said, scoffing at claims he fears electoral defeat.
The decision has fueled a firestorm of protests across Serbia. Protesters accuse Vučić’s government of corruption and suppressing public will, paralyzing major cities with blockades of key infrastructure like Belgrade’s Gazela and Branko bridges.
The protests, which began with a massive Belgrade rally on 30 May titled “Everyone on the Street,” have spread to Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica, and beyond. Chanting “We want elections,” students and citizens have vowed to escalate non-violent civil disobedience, targeting government institutions and pro-regime media.
“We’re not here to disrupt lives but to confront lies and corruption,” a student leader declared, emphasising the movement’s resolve.
Described as Europe’s largest student-led protests in half a century, the demonstrations reflect deep frustration with Vučić’s decade-long rule. A CRTA survey from April 2025 shows 59% of Serbians back the protests, though Vučić claims 23% see the demonstrations themselves as the country’s biggest issue, arguing citizens are “fed up” with disruptions and yearn for stability.
The student-led movement has rejected ties with established opposition parties, advocating for a new electoral list of trusted public figures to restore democratic accountability.
“This isn’t just noise – it’s a demand for dignity, justice, and change,” protesters stated, pledging to continue until elections are called. Their demands include accountability for the Novi Sad tragedy, prosecution of those who attacked demonstrators, and dropping charges against arrested students. Allegations of police using excessive force, including a sound gun at a March rally, have further inflamed tensions.
Vučić’s defiance amid geopolitical tensions
Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) holds a commanding parliamentary majority, bolstering his resistance to early elections. Analysts warn that an opposition parliamentary boycott could intensify pressure but risks sidelining their influence. The protests’ decentralized slogan, “Decentralization is charging,” underscores their reach, amplifying voices from smaller cities like Pirot, Vlasotince, and Kraljevo in a united front against what protesters call the “Vučić regime.”
Compounding the domestic unrest, a 30 May explosion at the Krušik defense plant in Valjevo, caused by an accidental detonator activation, injured five workers and raised suspicions of sabotage. The blast followed Russian accusations that Serbia supplied arms to Ukraine, spotlighting Vučić’s delicate balancing act between East and West. While no evidence suggests foul play, the incident has intensified scrutiny of Serbia’s arms industry and Vučić’s foreign policy.
Serbia’s pursuit of EU membership, ongoing since 2014, faces hurdles as Vučić navigates ties with the West, Russia, and China. Publicly pro-European, he frames EU accession as a national priority, yet deepens partnerships with Beijing for infrastructure and Moscow for energy.
EU officials, including the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas during a 22 May visit, have urged reforms in media freedom, anti-corruption measures, and electoral processes. However, with only two of 22 opened EU negotiating chapters closed, progress remains sluggish. Earlier in the month, European Council President António Costa had called Serbia’s accession “a trust-building process” and urged swift reforms to open the next negotiating chapter.
Vučić’s government faces accusations of democratic backsliding, with pro-regime media branding protesters as Western-backed “terrorists” and downplaying rally sizes. The president has hinted at possible early elections without committing to a timeline, dismissing protesters as foreign agents aiming to “destroy Serbia.” Meanwhile, no one has been convicted for the Novi Sad tragedy, fueling doubts about justice.
As protests swell, Serbia stands at a pivotal moment. The student-led movement has sparked hope for democratic renewal, but Vučić’s institutional control and strategic maneuvering pose formidable challenges. Whether this wave of dissent can force a political reckoning or be stifled by the regime remains uncertain. For now, Serbia’s streets pulse with demands for change, signaling a critical juncture in the nation’s democratic struggle.
Sources: BETA, BGNES, IBNA, edited by a.k.
Caption: University students lead the blockade of the Brankova street bridge in Belgrade, Serbia, 1 June 2025. University students are rallying to demand accountability and call for early elections after sixteen people died when the canopy of the newly renovated Novi Sad Railway Station collapsed on 01 November 2024. The station, which had been reopened on 5 July 2024 following renovations, was undergoing additional work shortly before the incident. [EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC]
Updated: June 2, 2025 - 15:19
