Serbia’s protesting students renew pressure on Vucic with a big weekend rally

BELGRADE, Serbia — BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s protesting university students are preparing for a major rally this weekend, renewing their push for significant political changes in the Balkan nation led by authoritarian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Thousands of individuals are expected to converge in Belgrade on Saturday from various parts of Serbia.

Serbia’s youth movement was instrumental in a series of large anti-corruption protests that rattled Vucic’s administration last year. Now, the students are focused on the upcoming elections, aiming to remove Vucic’s right-wing populist government.

“We anticipate a strong turnout and hope that people will stand with us and continue to support the students as we gear up for the elections,” stated youth representative Isidora Jovanovic in an interview with The Associated Press. “Serbia is in need of change, and the students will be the catalyst for that change.”

The rally on Saturday will take place at Belgrade’s Slavija Square, the site of a significant anti-government demonstration last March. The event culminated in a sudden disruption, which experts claimed — a charge denied by the government — involved the use of a sonic weapon against peaceful protestors.

Police presence has been heightened at the square, with efforts made to separate Vucic’s supporters from the students who are busy printing “Students win” placards. Recent incidents, including an altercation where an elderly man was injured by a driver disrupting a traffic blockade in central Belgrade, have underscored the tensions.

Organizers are working diligently to ensure a peaceful gathering, especially given the expected influx of attendees from across Serbia. The students are keen to prevent any negative outcomes or injuries among the citizens.

The student movement, born in response to a tragic train station incident that claimed 16 lives in northern Serbia in November 2024, gained momentum in 2025 with prolonged faculty blockades resulting in the resignation of then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his government.

Despite these changes, the demand for early elections persists, a call that Vucic has yet to heed. The outcry over the canopy collapse at the Novi Sad station highlighted deep-seated corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, resonating with the public.

Dusan Vucicevic, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, noted the evolution of the youth movement into a formidable political force with widespread support. He expressed confidence in the students’ ability to make a significant impact in future elections.

“We finally have a political entity that can challenge the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and Aleksandar Vucic,” Vucicevic remarked in an interview with the AP.

Vucic has adopted a hardline stance against the protesters, with pro-government media labeling dissenters as terrorists and foreign agents seeking to destabilize the country, further exacerbating political divisions.

The president’s loyalists are expected to assemble at a park camp outside the presidency building on Saturday, established as a protective measure following last year’s protests. Incidents of violence targeting protestors and journalists near the camp have been reported.

Allegations of police brutality and arbitrary detentions have drawn international scrutiny, potentially jeopardizing Serbia’s access to 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in European Union funding earmarked for candidate nations.

Branislav Vasic and Filip Novakovic, freshmen at Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences, affirmed their participation in the upcoming rally. The duo emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with the older generation in effecting change.

“Given the current circumstances, it is imperative for everyone to join the rally,” Vasic asserted, highlighting the potential for transformative change driven by popular will.

Novakovic echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collective effort towards a brighter future. He viewed the current generation as uniquely positioned to enact reforms that previous cohorts could not achieve.

“I am committed to this cause for as long as I live,” Novakovic declared. “The struggle for change is a continuous endeavor.”