Elections, anyone? Asking for 140,000 friends

01 July 2025

Serbians took to the streets once again this weekend, but this time song and optimism were replaced by teargas, rubber bullets, blood, and violent arrests – more than on all previous rallies combined. And there were many.

According to CRTA, at least 5,242 protests and 901 citizens' assemblies have taken place in Serbia during the last eight months. Reminder – the protests began as a call to bring to justice those responsible for the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, strengthen the rule of law, and end rampant corruption in the country.

By official estimates, more than 140,000 citizens followed students into the streets on 28 June to present president Vučić with an ultimatum: if you don't meet student demands, you must announce national elections by 21.00 Saturday, or the peace act ends.

Unsurprisingly, he didn't budge. With no elections announced, the students declared Vučić's government illegitimate and gave citizens the green light to take over and radicalise the protests.

As of 29 June, the country was brought to a near standstill with 96 simultaneously blocked main roads and bridges, as well as protests across the country, of which 40 are currently taking place in Belgrade. Citizens demand snap elections, for Ćaciland to finally be disbanded, and for all those unlawfully arrested during Saturday's protest to be released.

But police pushbacks didn't end with the protest; they too have spilled into the streets, and tensions seem only to be escalating. This is no longer a student movement, but country-wide civic disobedience, and nothing about it feels destined to end peacefully.