Overview
- Thousands gathered in Belgrade on May 1 as Serbia's five largest trade unions joined student-led protests for the first time, marking a new phase in the anti-corruption movement.
- Protesters are calling for reforms to labor and strike laws, prosecution of officials linked to the Novi Sad railway station collapse, and broader systemic changes.
- The canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people last November, has been widely attributed to corruption and substandard oversight during renovations by Chinese state contractors.
- Investigations into the tragedy and alleged misuse of EU funds have made limited progress, with charges against 13 individuals returned for further review by Serbian courts.
- President Aleksandar Vucic has dismissed the protests as a Western-backed attempt to undermine his government, while demonstrators continue to face police crackdowns and political resistance.