site.btaBelgrade Students Blocking Faculties Lead Nationwide Call for Early Parliamentary Elections

Students in Belgrade, who have been blocking faculty buildings, held a protest under the slogan We Want Elections on Friday.

Protesters gathered outside the old railway station in Belgrade, calling for early parliamentary elections.

"We want to put forward our own candidates for parliament because we don't trust the current politicians," said Gorica Jovanovic from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Belgrade. She explained that students want to nominate respected public figures for seats in the National Assembly.

The protesters painted a red clenched fist on the pavement in front of the old railway station, then marched through the streets of Belgrade, encouraging others to join their demonstration.

One of the students speaking at the event said the collapse of the canopy at the railway station in Novi Sad was not just an isolated incident, but a sign that the whole system is breaking down due to corruption, which puts people at risk instead of protecting them. They asked how many more lives need to be put in danger or lost before something changes.

A protest calling for early elections was also held in Nis. In many places across Serbia, students and high school pupils walked or rode their bikes to join demonstrations planned for June 1.

According to posts on Instagram, protests are set to happen on June 1 not just in Belgrade, but also in 31 other locations across the country.

Tensions in Serbia have grown since a railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad on November 1 claimed 15 lives. For four months, protesters, mostly students, have blocked over 60 faculties, accusing the government and President Aleksandar Vucic of corruption. Two ministers resigned, as did Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. On April 7, President Vucic tasked a non-partisan figure, Djuro Macut, to form a new government. On April 15, Macut presented his proposed cabinet in parliament, calling for an end to the protests, echoing Vucic’s earlier appeals for calm.