Tens Of Thousands Rally In Belgrade For Early Elections

BELGRADE, May 24 (Bernama-dpa) -- Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in central Belgrade on Saturday to demand early elections, German Press Agency (dpa) reported, citing media reports.

The rally was part of a protest movement triggered by the collapse of a railway station canopy in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people.

One speaker, an electrical engineering student, described new elections as a chance for an "honest government, freedom and a dignified life," according to the Beta news agency.

The student-led movement, which occupied practically all of Serbia’s universities for a year, is now backed by millions of citizens. They blame negligence and corruption under President Aleksandar Vučić’s government for the deadly Novi Sad disaster.

The protesters are seeking early elections as a way to enable a peaceful change of government. The next regular parliamentary election is not due until late 2027.

Clashes broke out on Saturday evening after the demonstration ended, about 1 kilometre from Slavija Square, the centre of the rally.

Masked men fired pyrotechnics towards the police. Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said that 23 people were arrested and an unspecified number of police officers were injured.

Vučić accused the demonstrators on Instagram of once again showing their violent nature. Similar violence at previous mass protests was later found to have been carried out by infiltrated provocateurs.

The government again halted rail traffic across Serbia ahead of the rally. Serbian Railways gave no official reason, but the move appeared aimed at making it harder for government opponents outside Belgrade to attend.

-- BERNAMA-dpa