Serbia: Thousands protest in Novi Sad, demand early elections after 2024 train station collapse

Thousands of citizens took to the streets of Novi Sad, Serbia's second‑largest city, on 20 June demanding President Aleksandar Vučić resign and call early elections. The protests were sparked by the 2024 collapse of a roof at the city's railway station, which killed 16 people and intensified accusations of government corruption and mismanagement of public projects.

Demonstrators, many of them students, opposition members and human‑rights groups, chant slogans against Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, alleging election fraud, media suppression and links to organized crime. They called for a free and fair vote, noting that national elections are scheduled for 2027 but could be moved forward.

Vučić responded in a televised address, urging his supporters to gather for a counter‑rally on 27 June, emphasizing national unity under the Serbian flag. The unrest adds pressure on Serbia’s EU accession talks, which require improvements in rule‑of‑law and democratic standards.