Massive protests have taken place in the southeastern European country of Serbia demanding the end of President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year rule and early elections. The anti-government movement reached its peak in the capital Belgrade on Saturday (June 28), when police clashed with protesters.
The BBC reported that about 140,000 people took part in one of the largest demonstrations in the country’s recent history. The crowd, chanting “We want elections,” expressed their anger at the government. The student-led movement has put enormous pressure on Vucic’s government.
Police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters to bring the situation under control. Many were injured in the clashes, and numerous protesters were arrested.
In response, President Aleksandar Vucic claimed in an Instagram post that the protests were “part of a foreign conspiracy” aimed at destabilizing Serbia. “They wanted to overthrow Serbia, but they failed.”
Earlier, the High Court in Belgrade said five people had been arrested on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. The country’s interior minister also warned that those involved in the clashes would be brought to justice.
Vucic’s second term ends in 2027. Parliamentary elections are due to be held that year as scheduled. However, he has refused to call early elections in the face of opposition demands. His party, the Serbian Progressive Party, and its allies currently hold 156 of the 250 seats in parliament.
“Institutions have been taken over, corruption is rampant,” said 37-year-old Slajna Loznovic, who attended the protest from the northern town of Sid. Vucic is unlikely to leave power peacefully. Elections are the only solution.
The opposition has long accused the Vucic administration of being involved in organized crime, controlling the media and suppressing political opponents. The ruling party has always denied these allegations.
Vucic’s policy of closeness to Russia has also been criticized. Serbia, which is in the process of becoming a member of the European Union, has not complied with Western sanctions even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The movement spread after the collapse of the roof of the railway station in the city of Novi Sad on November 1, 2023, killing 16 people. Students, politicians, workers and farmers took to the streets, blaming corruption in the incident. This led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.
After Saturday’s protest, the organizers said in a statement, “If the government wanted to avoid conflict, it had the opportunity. But instead of choosing that path, they chose the path of repression against the people. If the situation worsens, the government will have to bear the responsibility.” They called on Serbian citizens to “take their freedom into their own hands” and said the green light had been given to move on to the next phase of the movement.