Tens of thousands of people gathered across Serbia on Thursday evening in government-backed rallies branded as protests “against blockades,” with President Aleksandar Vučić joining demonstrators in Belgrade as rival groups also staged counter-protests in several cities.
State media and outlets close to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) reported that rallies were held in more than 140 towns, portraying them as peaceful, family-oriented gatherings with messages of “unity and normal life.” Government officials, including Finance Minister Siniša Mali and outgoing Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, were seen marching alongside citizens carrying balloons, Serbian flags and banners.
Vučić appeared at a rally in Belgrade’s Banjica district, where police estimated attendance at more than 12,000. Speaking to the crowd, he said around 140,000 people had gathered nationwide. “People just want a normal, safe and stable Serbia,” Vučić told reporters, adding that the demonstrations showed “the failure of attempts at a colored revolution.”
Counter-Movements and Incidents
Independent outlets reported a more complex picture, with counter-protests and incidents breaking out in several cities. In Novi Sad, police detained a man carrying a knife and tear gas near a rally site, while in Kraljevo scuffles were reported between opposing groups. In Belgrade, police pushed back citizens near the Faculty of Organizational Sciences where a protest against government policies was taking place.
Opposition activists and student groups have for weeks organized road and campus blockades to protest what they describe as authoritarian rule, corruption and restrictions on public goods. The government has denounced such actions as illegal and disruptive, mobilizing its supporters in response.
Political Context
The rallies come amid mounting political tensions in Serbia ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections. While Vučić and his party portray the mass gatherings as proof of broad public backing, opposition groups accuse the government of orchestrating staged events and misusing state resources to demonstrate strength.
Analysts say the parallel protests highlight the country’s deep polarization. “On one side you have a highly mobilized ruling party with access to state machinery, and on the other, fragmented opposition groups trying to keep pressure on the streets,” said one political analyst in Belgrade.
Thursday’s demonstrations underscore both the ruling party’s capacity to rally large numbers of people and the persistent discontent among parts of the population, raising the stakes in the months leading up to the ballot.