Serbia Faces 10-Month Anti-Government Protests Amid Rising Violence, Calls for Early Elections

Serbia has been experiencing ongoing widespread protests for the past 10 months, sparked by the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad that killed 16 people, which many see as a symbol of government corruption and negligence. The movement, largely driven by students but increasingly supported by other sectors including nationalists, demands deep institutional reforms, accountability, and early elections to remove President Aleksandar Vučić, who has been in power for over a decade. Despite some violent clashes, such as stone-throwing and police use of tear gas during a protest at the University of Novi Sad, many demonstrations have remained peaceful while calling out government mismanagement and corruption. The unrest has led to significant political consequences, including the resignation of the Prime Minister and arrests of officials on corruption charges. President Vučić has dismissed the protests as foreign interference and condemned what he called violence disguised as activism, while reports mention injuries on both sides during recent confrontations. Overall, the protests represent the largest citizen revolt in recent European history, reflecting a deep and persistent demand for political change and justice in Serbia.