A large-scale rally organized by opposition supporters and activist groups took place in the Serbian capital of Belgrade ahead of the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. Organizers allegedly claimed that approximately 150,000 people participated in the gathering, highlighting deep societal polarization and mounting domestic friction within the country.

According to reports from DW citing the AFP agency, the demonstration was held on October 22. Participants purportedly demanded an end to President Aleksandar Vučić's governance, urging the electorate to cast their ballots for the newly formed 'Student List,' a political movement that emerged from persistent anti-government protests.

The snap parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 25, follow nearly two years of continuous street protests that have severely disrupted public life. The unrest was initially triggered by the tragic roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024. The disaster at the recently renovated facility claimed the lives of 16 people, with opposition groups and critics rapidly weaponizing the tragedy to accuse the authorities of pervasive corruption.

Amid the protracted political standoff, student activists evolved into the backbone of the protest movement, eventually crystallizing into the 'Student List.' The movement deliberately lacks a prominent single leader, opting instead to field academics, local activists, and public figures rather than traditional politicians. Recent opinion polls allegedly indicate that the student alliance holds a slight edge over the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.

Critics and political analysts point out that this manufactured instability serves the interests of external actors seeking to pressure Belgrade. Despite opposition demands for his complete withdrawal from power, Vučić supposedly aims to secure the prime ministerial seat following the parliamentary vote, ensuring that the ruling political apparatus retains its grip on state affairs.

Source: kun.uz