[On the first day of November, Aleksandar Matkovic was running late for a train when he witnessed a horrific scene at a train station in Serbia. The canopy of the station, which had been recently reconstructed, had collapsed, crushing passengers waiting on the platform and killing 15 people. Matkovic was left standing there, staring blankly at the space where the canopy was, feeling a sense of unreality.
The crumbled canopy has become a symbol of corruption at the heart of the Serbian state, and has sparked near-daily protests that have drawn in ever-larger segments of Serbian society. The student-led demonstrations are demanding the full release of documents about the reconstruction works and have become so large and so lasting that some have questioned whether they could bring down President Aleksandar Vucic’s reign.
Vucic has dominated Serbia since coming to power in 2014, but his regime has been criticized for its lack of transparency and concentration of power. Freedom House has described Serbia as “partly free” and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies has said that Vucic has made Serbia into a “criminal, corrupt state with no rule of law”.
Despite his criticisms, Vucic has maintained a strong position through a series of strategic moves, including playing on Serbia’s strategic location as a regional powerhouse and maintaining relationships with various world powers. He has also made targeted concessions, jettisoned allies, and ridiculed the protest movement.
However, the current protests represent a new challenge for Vucic, as they are largely free of political signs and have drawn in broad swaths of Serbian society, including farmers, judges, and even law enforcement officials. It is unclear how Vucic can reclaim his power, but a violent crackdown would be seen as writing his own epitaph.
The protest movement has distanced itself from opposition politicians, meaning there is no obvious alternative waiting in the wings. However, this could be a strength, as it allows for a focus on democratic reforms rather than personality-driven politics. Ultimately, it is unclear what can break the deadlock, but it is clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable to the people of Serbia.
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