What's happened
On April 25, 2025, Serbian students began a 2,000-kilometer run to Brussels to protest corruption and demand justice following a deadly train station canopy collapse. This follows their earlier cycling journey to Strasbourg, highlighting their struggle against President Vucic's authoritarianism and the EU's inadequate response to their plight.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights
- Student Mobilization: The students' relay run to Brussels symbolizes their determination to draw EU attention to their cause, reflecting a broader discontent with the political climate in Serbia.
- EU's Role: The EU's perceived indifference to Serbia's democratic backsliding raises questions about its commitment to its own values of freedom and rule of law.
- Political Implications: President Vucic's administration faces increasing pressure as these protests challenge his authority and expose the government's corruption.
- Future Outlook: The students' actions may catalyze further international scrutiny of Serbia's political situation, potentially influencing EU negotiations regarding Serbia's membership aspirations.
What the papers say
According to AP News, the students' run aims to remind the EU of its values, with one student stating, "We have to make it" to Brussels. Bloomberg reported that President Vucic acknowledged the delay in sanctions against NIS, thanking American partners for their understanding. The Independent highlighted the students' earlier cycling journey to Strasbourg, emphasizing their determination to fight for justice and the rule of law. This contrast illustrates the students' persistent efforts to gain international support against a backdrop of governmental repression.
How we got here
The protests were ignited by a tragic train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. Students have since mobilized against corruption and the erosion of democratic freedoms under President Aleksandar Vucic, who is accused of authoritarian governance.
Go deeper
- What sparked the protests in Serbia?
- How has the EU responded to the situation?
- What are the students hoping to achieve with their run?
Common question
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What Are the Recent Protests in Turkey and Serbia About?
Recent protests in Turkey and Serbia have captured global attention, highlighting issues of political repression, corruption, and the fight for justice. As citizens take to the streets, many are left wondering what sparked these movements and what they mean for the future of democracy in these countries. Below, we explore the key questions surrounding these protests.
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What are the reasons behind the student protests in Serbia?
The recent student protests in Serbia have captured international attention, stemming from a tragic incident and ongoing issues of corruption and authoritarian governance. As students embark on a 2,000-kilometer run to Brussels, they aim to raise awareness about their plight and demand justice. This page explores the motivations behind these protests, the students' methods of advocacy, and the government's response.
More on these topics
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Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia, is a landlocked country situated at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe in the southern Pannonian Plain and the central Balkans.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Strasbourg (UK: STRAZ-burg, US: STRAHSS-boorg, STRAHZ-, -burg; French: [stʁasbuʁ] ; German: Straßburg [ˈʃtʁaːsbʊʁk] ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the p
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Novi Sad is the second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pannonian Plain on the border of the Bačka and Srem geographical regions.
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Aleksandar Vučić (born 5 March 1970) is a Serbian politician serving as President of Serbia since 2017. A founding member of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), he previously served as President of the SNS from 2012 to 2023, First Deputy Prime Minister