Tens of thousands march in Serbia's capital, demanding new elections

Tens of thousands of protesters marched silently through Belgrade on Monday to commemorate the 16 victims of the collapse of a renovated train station. They called for new elections in the hope of ousting President Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling SNS party.

The rally, organized by students, began at 7 p.m. in front of the old train station. Sixteen students each carried a white rose while the names of the victims were read aloud. Similar protests took place in cities such as Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and Aleksinac.

“Corruption is the root of all problems in our society. Elections are the only solution,” said Srdjan, a 35-year-old scientist.
The protests, triggered by the November disaster, have been rocking Vučić's government for months. While they have mostly been peaceful, violent clashes broke out on August 13, leaving people injured on both sides.

Protesters blame corruption for the disaster and are calling for new elections. Students, opposition groups, and anti-corruption organizations accuse Vučić and his allies of links to organized crime and suppression of media freedom—charges they deny.