Clashes Erupt in Belgrade as Protesters Demand End to Vucic's 12-Year Rule

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic faces escalating anti-government protests demanding snap elections and an end to his 12-year rule, with widespread discontent fueled by allegations of corruption, media control, and ties to organized crime. Demonstrations, prominently led by university students and triggered by a deadly railway station collapse in Novi Sad, have persisted for eight months, culminating in violent clashes with riot police in Belgrade. Police deployed tear gas, pepper spray, and armored vehicles to disperse protesters who hurled stones and flares near government buildings, while Vucic accused unspecified foreign powers of instigating the unrest. Despite the protests and demands for political accountability, Vucic's Progressive Party coalition maintains a parliamentary majority and has refused to call snap elections, warning against violence and pledging to defend the country. The protests highlight deep socio-political divisions in Serbia, with authorities arresting activists on charges they deny and protesters continuing to challenge Vucic's grip on power amid accusations of authoritarianism and cronyism.