Protest in Novi Sad launches a new phase
Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Novi Sad, Serbia, as university students announced a new stage in their protest against President Aleksandar Vucic.
The students said their demonstrations have continued for more than a year and have shaken Vucic’s government.
Corruption accusations and demands for change
Protesters in Novi Sad chanted “thieves” and accused the government of rampant corruption, which they said also led to a November 2024 train station disaster in the northern city that killed 16 people and helped trigger a nationwide movement for change.
Vucic has refused to schedule an immediate early election that students have demanded, the report said.
The report also said hundreds of people have been detained, or reported losing their jobs or facing pressure for opposing the government.
Students outline proposals for a post-Vucic plan
University students told the crowd in Novi Sad that, after last year’s protests, they would now offer a plan on how to rid Serbia of corruption and restore the rule of law.
They proposed banning corrupt officials from politics and investigating their wealth as first steps for the post-Vucic government.
The protest was dubbed “What victory will mean.”
Organizers set next rally for Belgrade
Organizers said the next protest rally is planned for Jan. 27 in Belgrade.
The report said students also told supporters last month that they collected around 400,000 signatures in support of their election bid.
Vucic rejects accusations as students gain support
The report said Vucic has been in power for more than a decade, promising to take Serbia into the European Union, and that he has strengthened ties with Russia and China.
It also said Vucic faces accusations of curbing democratic freedoms in Serbia and allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish.
The report said Vucic accused the students of working under unspecified Western orders to “destroy Serbia.”