Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia’s long-serving political figure, resigned from the presidency on Sunday night to run for prime minister in next month’s election, a move seen as a high-stakes gamble amid mounting challenges to his authority. Having held power for 12 years, Vucic now confronts an unusually competitive political landscape as his Popular Serbian Progressive Party faces a rising opposition movement led by activists and students.
The backdrop to the election is marked by growing unrest since the November 2024 tragedy in Novi Sad, where a canopy collapse at a renovated train station resulted in the deaths of 16 people. The disaster exposed allegations of corruption and negligence surrounding a refurbishment led by two Chinese state-owned firms. Originally planned at a cost of €3.5 million, the project ballooned to €16 million through numerous subcontractors, according to reports from Zoran Djajic, a geological engineer brought out of retirement to consult on the work. Djajic publicly accused the government of dishonesty and blamed systemic corruption for the collapse, contradicting President Vucic’s initial claims that the canopy had not been part of the renovation.
The tragedy galvanized a student-led protest movement that has since evolved into a political party known as the Student List. This group, composed of activists, academics, and clinicians, has attracted significant public support, with recent opinion polls showing them favored by 59 percent of respondents compared to Vucic’s 35 percent. The student movement’s rise reflects widespread dissatisfaction with what critics describe as an increasingly autocratic government marked by suppression of dissent, media control, and the erosion of judicial independence over recent years.
Tensions remain high, with reports of violent attacks against protesters. Among those injured was Ana Vucak, an art student assaulted by men believed to have backing from the ruling party. Despite criminal charges against her attackers, Vucic publicly expressed support for them and later granted presidential pardons during their trial, underscoring the fraught political climate.
Several ministers and senior officials were indicted after the canopy collapse in December 2024, though court proceedings have yet to commence. Meanwhile, relatives of the victims continue to demand justice and political accountability. Dijana Hrka, who lost her son Stefan in the incident, staged a 16-day hunger strike last November outside the parliament, calling for new elections and the release of jailed protesters.
As Serbia heads into the October 25 election, analysts predict a turbulent period ahead regardless of the outcome. Political observers caution that if Vucic retains power, protests and challenges from opposition groups could intensify. Conversely, should the Student List succeed, entrenched interests within the current regime may employ all means available to obstruct the formation of a new government. For now, public sentiment remains divided, with the country grappling with the legacy of tragedy and demands for systemic change.