Serbian Leader Holds Rally in City Marked by Tragedy and Protest

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's populist leader, held a pre-election rally in Novi Sad on Friday, returning to the northern city where 16 people died in a train station tragedy nearly two years ago. The 2024 incident triggered a wave of mass anti-government protests.

Thousands of supporters attended the rally in a central square, with many bused in from other regions. This marked Vucic's first major gathering in the city since the protests began in November 2024. Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) face a significant challenge in the upcoming Oct. 25 election after 14 years in power.

The primary opposition comes from candidates associated with Serbia's protesting university students, collectively known as the Students’ List. These students led the demonstrations, demanding accountability for the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad train station. Protesters attributed the disaster to faulty construction and corruption-fueled negligence.

The near-daily protests significantly impacted Vucic's government, leading to its collapse and drawing hundreds of thousands of people to student-led rallies. Vucic's appearance in Novi Sad was framed as a display of confidence ahead of the vote. He asserted, without providing evidence, that the student-led protests were orchestrated and funded by unspecified foreign powers, stating that "A lot of money came from abroad, billions were brought in to destroy Serbia."

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was a special guest at the rally, delivering a speech in Serbian and praising Vucic.

Critics have accused Vucic and the SNS of suppressing democratic freedoms, engaging in rampant corruption, and maintaining ties to organized crime, allegations they deny. Serbia's bid for European Union membership has stalled under Vucic, who maintains close relations with Russia and China.

Despite the protests, no one has been held responsible for the train station tragedy, which remains a sensitive issue in Novi Sad. Students had urged residents to avoid the city on Friday to prevent confrontations with Vucic's supporters.

During his speech, Vucic pledged to deliver justice for the Novi Sad tragedy. Pro-government media reported his arrival in the city by train, followed by a walk accompanied by chanting supporters.

Some attendees were seen waving flags featuring the image of former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, who was convicted of genocide for atrocities during the Bosnian War. Mladic was buried as a hero in Belgrade following his death.

Vucic aims to return as prime minister following the Oct. 25 election. He resigned as president last month to lead the SNS campaign and improve its parliamentary election prospects. Novi Sad experienced clashes between police and Vucic supporters during earlier protests, but no major incidents were reported on Friday.