Serbia’s President Opens Talks While Protesters Demand Early Election

The president of Serbia plans to start talks with various political groups this Friday, claiming it will help the country escape a growing crisis. Critics say these meetings are empty and that real change can only come through an early election.

The unrest began after a tragic incident in December 2024 when a concrete awning collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. The event sparked an anti‑government and anti‑corruption movement that has kept pressuring the administration for reforms.

Opposition activists want elections well before the scheduled 2027 date. They also demand an independent judiciary, a free university system, and clearer rules for minority parties. One protest leader said that talking with the president would not solve these issues.

The president, who is serving his second five‑year term that ends in 2027, has invited parties such as the Movement of Socialists and minority groups from Bosnia and Hungary to sit at the table. He also plans to discuss Serbia’s relationship with the European Union, a key topic for those hoping to join the bloc.

The ruling party’s parliamentary speaker said that discussions would focus on early elections and EU ties. However, the Green‑Left Front announced it will not join the talks, insisting that only a sustained struggle can confront what they call a criminal regime.

Serbia’s path to EU membership requires reforms in the judiciary, fighting corruption, improving relations with Kosovo, and aligning foreign policy with European standards. Meanwhile, the country maintains a delicate balance between Western aspirations and ties to China and Russia.