Months of mass protests have gripped Serbia following the deaths of 15 people in a railway station collapse.
For nearly three months, tens of thousands of students have demonstrated, demanding accountability and prosecution for those responsible for the November 1st disaster. The station canopy collapsed after renovations undertaken by two Chinese firms.
A general strike last week saw widespread work stoppages and demonstrations, with major Belgrade streets blocked and university campuses occupied in a show of solidarity.
“In my 30 years in the Balkans, I’ve never witnessed anything like this,” Tanya Domi, a Columbia University professor, told Digital.
The protests prompted the resignation of Milos Vucevic, along with the mayor of Novi Sad, where the tragedy occurred.
“The protests have already claimed two high-profile resignations, and I anticipate more to follow,” Domi commented.
While the prime minister’s resignation was the most significant departure from the government, it failed to quell the unrest. Large-scale protests continued across the country.
“The prime minister’s resignation is simply insufficient,” Helena Ivanov, a senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Institute, told Digital.
Ivanov stated that the student protesters have clear goals: full transparency regarding the collapse and the prosecution of those responsible for the loss of life.
The government’s response has been marked by a lack of clarity and attempts to minimize its role. Initially ignoring the protests, the government then resorted to force and accusations of foreign interference. Some observers contend that this inaction and lack of transparency are symptomatic of deep-seated corruption within Serbian institutions.
“For protesters, the Novi Sad railway station collapse isn’t an isolated incident but a manifestation of widespread negligence and systemic corruption,” Sinisa Vukovic, director of the global policy program at Johns Hopkins University, told Digital.
The prime minister’s unprecedented resignation leaves the government in a state of uncertainty. A new government must be formed within 30 days, or snap elections will be called. President Aleksandar Vucic will decide within 10 days whether elections will be held.
“This represents a significant challenge to Vucic’s authority, the most substantial in his 13 years in power,” Ivanov added.
Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Marko Djuric, assured Digital that Serbia remains committed to stability, reform, and growth. He stated, “We are listening, learning, and determined to ensure Serbia’s continued economic and democratic progress.”
Ivanov noted that these protests pose the most serious threat yet to the government and president. The students’ distance from the broader political opposition, which lacks popular support, has amplified the movement’s impact.
Students nationwide are framing this as their struggle, not that of the unpopular opposition, leading to wider participation.
“After 13 years of one-man rule and institutional failures, the central message of these protests is our demand for competent governance,” Ivanov explained.
The government’s suppression of the protests further fueled public anger and increased participation.
Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, cautioned the Trump administration against falling for President Vucic’s tactics of balancing between the U.S. and its adversaries.
“Vucic has fostered Chinese investment and weapons in Serbia. Serbia’s close ties to Iran and Russia undermine American interests. His domestic propaganda portrays the U.S. as an enemy. With allies like Vucic, Washington needs no enemies,” Stradner warned.