Serbia Marks Railway Disaster That Sparked Student-Led Political Movement
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Novi Sad, Serbia, on November 1 to mark the second anniversary of a deadly railway station roof collapse that killed 16 people in 2024. Mourners observed 16 minutes of silence and laid flowers, wreaths and candles near the station in memory of the victims. The tragedy triggered widespread public protests over alleged corruption and negligence in government infrastructure projects.
The disaster occurred at a railway station renovated as part of a China-backed high-speed rail project. Public demonstrations intensified across the country, leading to several government resignations, including that of the construction minister, a cabinet reshuffle and calls for early elections. Prosecutors indicted 13 people in connection with the collapse, although pretrial proceedings have reportedly stalled. The accused have denied wrongdoing.
The protests eventually contributed to the rise of a student-led political movement. In the October 25 election, the Student List bloc secured 141 seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament, according to preliminary results. Aleksandar Vucic acknowledged the defeat of his political camp and left office. Final election results are expected in the coming days, while a presidential election is anticipated before the end of the year.
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