Serbia against Vučić – mass protests in the country

Large-scale student protests have begun in Serbia, marking the largest demonstrations since the era of Slobodan Milošević's rule and posing a serious threat to the authority of President Aleksandar Vučić. 

On 24 January, the country witnessed a general strike; on 26 January, a protest involving pots and pans took place in Belgrade; and on 27 January, a blockade of a key transport junction – Autokomanda – began.

The primary trigger for the protests was the collapse of a concrete canopy at the railway station in Novi Sad in late 2024, which claimed the lives of 15 people. The demonstrations started with student demands for a fair investigation into the tragedy. However, they were soon joined by professors, prominent figures, and a broad segment of the population, who, in addition to calling for an investigation, began demanding the resignation of the government and the Serbian Progressive Party led by Vučić.

Political analyst Aleksandar Đokić noted that these protests are non-partisan and lack a clear structure with which Vučić could negotiate. Students continue to fight because the demands they have put forward are unlikely to be met by the regime. The protests have already taken on a political character, and, as the expert suggests, participants may begin proposing the formation of a transitional government.

President Vučić, for his part, is attempting to weather the protest wave, hoping that elections will not be held before spring. However, these protests pose a serious threat to his power, and there is a real risk that they will lead to elections in which Vučić's party could lose its absolute majority in parliament.