Serbians mark railway disaster that led to rise of victorious student movement

By Fedja Grulovic

NOVI SAD, Serbia, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people gathered at a Serbian railway station on Sunday to mark the anniversary of a deadly roof ​collapse that gave rise to the protest movement that ‌toppled longtime President Aleksandar Vucic in an election a week ago.

Crowds converged from across the city of Novi Sad on the main train station, where the concrete awning crashed down shortly before noon on November 1, 2024, ‌killing ​16 people.

Mourners observed 16 minutes of silence ⁠before laying wreaths, flowers ⁠and candles near the site.

“On a personal, emotional, and social level, I hope for a collective healing,” said Zorana Sijan Oborina, a student supporter.

The disaster, which struck at a station ​renovated under a China-backed high-speed rail project, ignited Serbia’s massive nationwide anti-corruption protest movement, culminating in last week’s election victory ⁠by a student-led bloc.

Protesters saw the ⁠collapse as symptomatic of corruption under Vucic. The protests ​forced resignations, including that of the construction minister, a government reshuffle ​and eventually snap elections.

Prosecutors indicted 13 people over the ‌collapse, but pretrial proceedings have stalled. The defendants denied any wrongdoing.

“I hope we have finally realised that we shouldn’t wait … years to change what is bad, especially when it costs human lives,” ⁠said Jelena Trajkovic, 32, an academic from Novi Sad.

On October 25, the Student List, a group that includes academics, professionals, farmers, actors and ⁠activists chosen by ‌student assemblies, secured 141 seats in the 250-member ⁠parliament, according to a preliminary tally. Final results ​are ‌due in coming days and not expected to ​change the ⁠outcome.

Vucic, standing as the candidate for prime minister from his SNS party at the end of his presidential term, acknowledged defeat and left office. A presidential election is expected before the end of the year.

(Reporting by Fedja Grulovic and Jana SimovicWriting by Aleksandar VasovicEditing ​by Peter Graff)