Approximately 140,000 people demonstrated on Saturday in Serbia to demand early elections, maintaining pressure on the government over seven months since the start of a student-led protest movement shaking the country.
„We want elections,” chanted the crowd, which occupied the largest square in the capital Belgrade and several surrounding streets starting at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT), waving Serbian flags and banners with names of cities and villages from Serbia, AFP reports.
During the evening, clashes broke out between protesters, some of whom threw smoke bombs, and law enforcement, who used tear gas and stun grenades. However, clashes have been rare since the start of the protest movement.
According to a provisional tally by an independent body at the end of the evening, approximately 140,000 people participated in the protest, making it one of the largest since the beginning of the movement, following the one on March 15, which gathered 300,000 people.
„We are demonstrating once again that we will not stop,” explained Stefan Ivakovic, a law student, to AFP. „We will mobilize for as long as necessary until our demands are met,” he added.
The movement began following the collapse of the roof of the train station in Novi Sad in November 2024, resulting in the death of 16 people, including two children.
Students quickly took the lead in the protest movement. Dissatisfied with the lack of action by the populist government in the face of this tragedy largely attributed to widespread corruption, they have made several demands in recent months, particularly calling for an independent investigation and early legislative elections since May.
Serbian students gave the president an ultimatum, demanding two things: the dissolution of Parliament and the departure of his supporters who are in front of the presidency since April 12.
According to the students’ ultimatum, Aleksandar Vucic had until Saturday at 21:00 (19:00 GMT) to respond.
After this ultimatum expired, the students communicated to the protesters: „People of Serbia! Time has run out, but not for us (…) This is not just a fight of the students. Today we all demand elections. We will all rise and we will all win.”
In the context of this widespread wave of protest, the Serbian president dismissed the prime minister and certain ministers in January, accusing the protesters at the same time of wanting to fuel a coup, being paid by other countries, or attempting to harm his life.