Serbia protests in Belgrade demand early elections after train tragedy

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Belgrade to call for snap parliamentary elections and a change of government in Serbia. The protests were sparked by the November 2024 collapse of a train shelter in Novi Sad that killed 16 people, which demonstrators attribute to government negligence and corruption.

The movement is led primarily by university students who have occupied campuses for over a year and now enjoy broader public support. During the demonstration, masked individuals clashed with police, threw fireworks, and 23 participants were arrested while several officers were injured, according to Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. President Aleksandar Vučić condemned the protesters on social media, describing them as violent.

In response, the authorities suspended nationwide rail service, ostensibly to hinder attendance at the rally. The unrest has heightened political pressure on the Vučić administration and raised concerns among investors about the stability of Serbia's regulatory environment.