Hundreds of students in Serbia began their two-day march from the capital Belgrade to Novi Sad on January 30, a journey of approximately 80 kilometers, as the country remains gripped by political turmoil following a deadly infrastructure collapse in Novi Sad late last year. 

The march, organised under the slogan “One Step from Justice”, is part of ongoing demonstrations that have shaken the government, culminating in the resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic earlier this week. 

Students from the Belgrade faculties are walking to the northern city to join their fellow students in a blockade of Novi Sad on February 1, to mark exactly three months since the collapse of a railway station canopy in that city that killed 15 people and critically injured two more. 

The students passed through smaller towns and villages along their way, areas which are traditionally more sympathetic to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has faced widespread criticism over its handling of the tragedy.

In Stara Pazova, a town on the route, locals prepared a large feast to welcome the students, including 50 litres of soup, 60 kilogrammes of sausages and over 50 kilogrammes of pork. The town came out on the streets to show support for the students, suggesting that discontent has spread beyond the usual bastions of opposition. 

The march comes in the wake of significant political upheaval. Vucevic, a prominent member of the SNS and former mayor of Novi Sad, was pressured to resign on January 28 following a nationwide strike and a blockade of a major junction in Belgrade on January 27. Novi Sad mayor Milan Djuric also stepped down. 

In the wake of the resignations, President Aleksandar Vucic conceded most of the students' demands and raised the possibility of snap parliamentary elections in April. Vucic, who leads the SNS, stated on January 27 that a decision on whether to call a snap election or form a new government would be made within 10 days. 

The protests have continued despite efforts by government officials to appease demonstrators, essentially giving in to all their demands. Students are dissatisifed by the government's concessions and are now calling for broader political and social reform.

As bne IntelliNews has argued, it seems increasingly likely that Serbia is heading toward early parliamentary elections. Vucic may calculate that risking his parliamentary majority is worth the opportunity to finally put to bed weeks of unrest. Indeed, it looks as if the president is already planning his campaign trail. On January 31, Vucic will head to the Rasina distict, where he is expected to visit factories and address a rally in Trstenik.