Serbia is facing its most turbulent political crisis in years as nationwide protests demanding government accountability have escalated into violent street confrontations. The unrest, sparked by the fatal collapse of a renovated railway station canopy last November, has now grown into a broader political movement challenging President Aleksandar Vučić’s long-standing rule.

On August 13, the northern city of Novi Sad became the epicenter of the latest clashes, as supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and anti-government demonstrators engaged in a fierce standoff. According to officials, at least 64 SNS supporters and 16 police officers were injured, with numerous others treated for minor injuries on the scene.

The violence erupted after hundreds of protesters gathered outside the SNS offices, demanding early parliamentary elections and justice for the victims of the Novi Sad railway station tragedy. The incident, which killed 16 people when the canopy collapsed just months after the station’s renovation, has become a rallying point for accusations of government corruption, negligence, and cover-ups.

The railway station disaster in November sent shockwaves through Serbia. Images of the mangled concrete structure and testimonies from grieving families ignited public outrage. Many citizens saw the collapse not as an isolated accident but as the symptom of systemic problems – cronyism in public contracts, lack of safety oversight, and the government’s alleged prioritization of political loyalty over professional competence.

Initially, the protests were driven........

© Blitz