Thousands of Serbs took to the streets of Belgrade on November 11, rallying under the banner "Corruption Kills" following the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad that claimed the lives of 14 people. 

Despite heavy rain and a national holiday, the protest, organised by opposition parties, reflected the growing public outrage over the country’s poor infrastructure and the government’s handling of recent construction projects.

The tragic incident has ignited widespread discontent, with many blaming corrupt practices and poor oversight in the renovation of the station’s outdoor canopy. Opposition leaders have been vocal in their criticism of what they describe as an entrenched culture of corruption. “We live in a country that has been eaten up by corruption; there is no democracy and no rights,” said Dragan Djilas of the Freedom and Justice Party.

The protest in Belgrade, while significant, was smaller in scale compared to the massive demonstration in Novi Sad on November 5, where over 20,000 people gathered to demand justice for the victims of the collapse. State media, keen to downplay the scale of the opposition, highlighted the smaller turnout in Belgrade, posting photos of sparse crowds taken before the protest got into full swing. 

While it was certainly not the biggest protest Serbia has seen this year, of which there have been many, the gathering was nonetheless significant and demonstrated the public’s frustration with the government of President Aleksandar Vucic, which is facing growing scrutiny in the wake of the Novi Sad disaster. 

The collapse at the Novi Sad train station, a result of what critics describe as substandard construction during a recent renovation, has led to mounting concerns about the involvement of Chinese state-owned companies in Serbia’s infrastructure projects. These firms, which have been contracted for large-scale construction works across the country, are facing increasing scrutiny as questions about the quality of their work and the lack of oversight continue to surface. 

Opposition leaders have demanded transparency from the government, calling for the release of all contracts related to the Novi Sad station’s reconstruction, many of which are currently classified. Furthermore, they have called for a thorough review of all ongoing infrastructure projects in the country. 

“We demand the resignation of those responsible for this tragedy, including Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric and Prime Minister Milos Vucevic,” said Djilas, referring to the former mayor of Novi Sad, who oversaw the station’s reopening. Demonstrators at the protest also called for the arrest of those deemed responsible for the collapse and the release of individuals detained during previous protests.

The recent wave of protests, however, may not be enough to challenge the political status quo, given the lack of unity and coherence within the opposition camp.

Despite the heightened sense of frustration, some protesters expressed skepticism about the ability of the opposition to effectively channel this anger into meaningful political change. “For now, the opposition doesn’t give us much hope,” said one young demonstrator, adding that the opposition’s lack of cohesion was a significant barrier to a unified challenge to the government. “They’ve shown us that they’re not a cohesive group at all, and that is a huge problem.”

A pattern has emerged in Serbian politics in which mass protests are sparked by tragic events, but momentum quickly fades, the crowds disperse, and it's back to the status quo. Public demonstrations against the government, particularly after tragedies such as last year’s school shootings, have been a recurring feature of the political landscape, but they have not translated into lasting political shifts. 

At the Belgrade protest, many of the demonstrators were not only protesting the government’s failures in response to the Novi Sad disaster, but were also voicing broader discontent with the administration’s policies. Several protesters waved banners reading “Ne damo Jadar” (We won’t give up Jadar), a reference to the proposed lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley, while some displayed EU flags and “Euromaidan Serbia” signs, to the dismay of others in the crowd. 

The protests reflect growing frustration with the government’s handling of both domestic and international issues, but the fragmented nature of the opposition and the government’s firm grip on power suggests that real political change may remain elusive.

As the government grapples with the fallout from the Novi Sad disaster, it remains to be seen whether the latest wave of protests will lead to tangible change or whether, like so many before it, it will ultimately fade into quiet discontent.