Demonstrators, opposition leaders, and rights groups allege that the deadly disaster is a direct consequence of widespread corruption and severe government mismanagement of major construction projects. In Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, thousands of protesters braved sweltering 30°C (86°F) heat, chanting “Victory” and wearing t-shirts reading “Students are winning.”
The student-led movement aims to unseat Vucic and the SNS in the next elections. While parliamentary and presidential votes are officially scheduled for 2027, Vucic has already hinted he might call for early elections in the coming months.
Beyond accountability for the disaster, protesters are demanding sweeping democratic reforms. Critics accuse Vucic’s administration of rigging elections, silencing independent media, utilizing violence against political opponents, and maintaining ties to organized crime—allegations that Vucic and his allies firmly deny.
“Without free and fair elections, everything else is empty words,” Sanja Belic, a university professor from Novi Sad, told the rallying crowd.
In a live television broadcast timed exactly with the Novi Sad protest, Vucic urged his own supporters to counter-rally under the Serbian flag on June 27, telling them “not to show anger towards anyone.”
The growing political unrest comes at a critical time for Serbia’s international ambitions. As a candidate to join the European Union, Belgrade is under intense pressure from Brussels to root out corruption, establish an independent judiciary, guarantee free elections, and align its foreign policy with the EU bloc.
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23:05/ 20.06.2026
Student-led anti-government protests that turned violent at times spread across Serbia following the disaster, rattling the 13-year rule of populist Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party, News.az reports, citing Reuters.
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Protesters, opposition and rights groups allege the railway station disaster was a sign of broader government mismanagement of construction projects and corruption.
In Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, thousands of protesters stood in temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) chanting “Victory” and jeering Vucic and SNS. Many carried banners and wore t-shirts reading “Students are winning.”
Activists from the student-led movement say they want to challenge Vucic and SNS in upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Both are set for 2027, but Vucic has said he might call them early in the coming months.
“Without free and fair elections, everything else is empty words,” Sanja Belic, a university professor from Novi Sad, told the crowd.
Protesters and rights groups also accuse Vucic and government officials of rigging elections, violence against opponents, stifling media freedom, corruption and ties with organised crime. Vucic and his allies deny the allegations.
“We must stand up, express our will, and win; we have no other choice,” said Goran Sajin, a protester in his 50s.
In a live television broadcast that coincided with the Novi Sad rally, Vucic said his supporters would rally on June 27.
“I invite them (people) not to show anger towards anyone … but to gather under the Serbian flag,” he said.
Serbia is a candidate to join the EU, but Belgrade is required to first improve its rule of law, including conditions for free and fair elections, the judiciary and root out corruption and organised crime. It also has to align its foreign policies with those of the bloc, including slapping sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
