Anti-government protest in Serbia calls for early elections
Tens of thousands of student-led anti-government demonstrators gathered in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Saturday, calling for early parliamentary elections after nearly eight months of protests.
The students have been a key force in driving anti-corruption protests across the nation following the deadly collapse of a newly renovated train station awning in the city of Novi Sad which killed 16 people.
Many Serbians blamed the collapse over alleged government corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, leading to recurring mass protests.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party have rejected calls for early elections and accused protesters of seeking to incite unrest under foreign influence, without providing evidence.
Authorities have responded with pressure on striking universities, opposition groups and independent media in an effort to crack down on the movement.
Despite the government crackdown, the large turnout at Saturday's rally suggested sustained public anger.
Hours before the student-led rally, Vucic's party bused in scores of its own supporters to Belgrade from other parts of the country, many wearing T-shirts reading: 'We won't give up Serbia.' They were joining a camp of Vucic's loyalists in central Belgrade where they have been staying in tents since mid-March.
Presidential and parliamentary elections in Serbia are scheduled for 2027.
Though Vučić formally says he wants Serbia to join the European Union, critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms as he strengthened ties with Russia and China.
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