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What do Serbian students want to achieve?

2025-10-27 08:21:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Students in Serbia have been protesting for almost a year. What are their demands and what fuels their hope of being able to implement democracy in the country?

For about a year, they have been marching, demonstrating and blocking universities. At times, the students have been joined by more than 300,000 people - the largest protests in Serbia's history.

A youth uprising that seems like it will never end, but whose outcome is completely uncertain. An uprising against corruption, against the authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vu?i?, who is responding with propaganda through pro-government media, claiming it is a "color revolution" orchestrated from abroad.

How can a new generation awaken hope to overthrow the regime that has ruled the 6.7 million people of this Western Balkan country with an iron fist since 2012? And what gives students the confidence to overcome decades of nepotism?

"Corruption kills"

It all started on November 1, 2024, at 11:52 a.m. Suddenly, a massive concrete canopy at the train station in Novi Sad, the country’s second largest city, collapsed. Sixteen people were killed. What made it even worse was that the station had recently undergone a large-scale renovation, but no one had checked the canopy’s stability. The opposition and some independent media outlets spoke out about corruption, and students quickly joined in.

"I think this was the last straw," says Jelena Popadi?, a student from Novi Sad, whom DW spoke to several times this year. "Theft has been happening here for so long that people have gotten used to it, in a strange way. But now corruption has cost people their lives."

Generation Z Uprising

After the tragedy, memorial rallies were held across the country, at intersections, always at 11:52 a.m. Immediately after, blockades of all state universities began. Students organized themselves into so-called plenary sessions, based on the principle of direct democracy.

Vu?i?, the leading figure of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), an “inclusive” party without a clear ideology that maneuvers between the West, Russia and China – was initially surprised by the scale of the uprising. But he was not alone: ??In Serbia, Generation Z, previously considered politically apathetic, was rising up for the first time.

"In addition to mobilizing citizens and the elderly, they also succeeded in mobilizing young people," says Vladan Djokic, Rector of the University of Belgrade. "They even reached out to people younger than themselves - high school students, even elementary school students. This gives hope that future generations will take care of our society and actively contribute to a better and more democratic state, where the rule of law is more than just a word," Djokic emphasized in an interview with the weekly magazine Vreme.

President Vu?i? initially responded to this new and unpredictable adversary with a mix of threats and concessions, changing the government and promising young people cheap housing loans. But from the students' perspective, the most important point remained unfulfilled: a fair investigation into the roof collapse and the publication of all documentation on the station's renovation.

Brutal attacks by police

Since the summer, when the university blockades ended yesterday and the government withheld professors' salaries, allegations of brutal attacks against the police have increased. Dozens of peaceful protesters have been beaten, while others have been detained for months, accused of trying to overthrow the "constitutional order."

In a recent interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Vu?i? again did not present evidence of a grand conspiracy by Western intelligence agencies - but he did hint at it again: "I never said that everything was organized from abroad. But it was well financed from abroad, because these people do not have enough money to pay for it themselves," Vu?i? said. "For example, these students who have blocked the universities should also eat three times a day."

The EU as a spectator?

For a long time, the European Union was silent on such allegations, as it was easy to work with Vu?i?. Balkan observers say this is due to his willingness to compromise on the Kosovo issue - and that he promised Serbia lithium to Germany and semi-secretly supplied Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, despite his "traditional friendship" with Russia.

But now even that is changing. The European People's Party (EPP) is considering the associate status of Vu?i?'s party in the conservative alliance. During her recent visit to Belgrade, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remained noticeably cool towards Vu?i?.

This government is neither moving Serbia towards the EU nor implementing the necessary reforms, says Naim Leo Besiri, director of the Institute for European Affairs, a Belgrade-based NGO. "That's why people have been on the streets for a year. Because every day there is someone in the police force who beats people - and I know that he will never be held accountable," Besiri told DW. But as long as there is no clear political alternative to Vu?i?, the EU will find it difficult to cooperate with anyone other than the current Serbian government.

Students prepare electoral lists

Many believe that this alternative could come from the ranks of students. From street protests and university blockades, they have now moved towards mainstream politics - and are demanding new elections. Vu?i? has so far dismissed this, but has hinted that it could happen next year.

The president closely monitors opinion polls. A list of professors, intellectuals and civil rights activists currently being compiled by students is clearly in the lead - although it does not officially exist yet. But a lead in the polls does not matter much in Serbia. The government has clearly won all elections in recent years - not least because it controls the public sector and mobilizes or extorts the votes of those employed there.

The students are not discouraged. They are prepared to defend every ballot whenever elections are held. They continue to distance themselves from the established opposition in Serbia, which is fragmented, weak, and deeply distrustful.

What sets them apart from previous, failed protests against Vu?i?'s rule? "I think the difference lies with the people. People have understood that it's now or never," says student Jelena Popadi?. "They won't give up. Young people have nothing to lose. Life here simply has no meaning. This is our last chance.

Another mass rally is planned for Saturday, November 1, in Novi Sad - where it all began with a tragedy a year ago. Authorities have already warned of suspected imminent violence - a warning that students interpret as a veiled threat of police violence. But they are not afraid./ DW