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February 3, 2026
Ian Cheng
Much like the protest-swept streets of Belgrade, fans of the Denver Nuggets are currently engulfed in a sea of anger and despair. The absence of their beloved (and injured) Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic has left a hole that no one can fill, leading to calls for change to bring the team back to glory. Similarly, Serbian protesters are demanding accountability from a political environment that they feel has failed them.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has been in office since 2017, is also the head of the dominant Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). In the 2023 parliamentary snap election, the SNS won a total of 129 seats, giving them a majority in the 250-seat National Assembly. From there, it hasn’t been smooth sailing, as widespread protests have engulfed the central Balkan nation. The situation all started with the November 2024 collapse of an outdoor canopy at the renovated Novi Sad railway station4, killing 16 people. Protesters led by university students advocate that the failure was due to government corruption. In late 2025, the Southeast European nation’s streets experienced a surge in violence, showing that the government has not quelled their people’s concerns.
Recently, the Vucic Administration has pivoted to preparations for Expo 2027, a smaller and specialized version of the World Expo. The international event aims to showcase Serbia’s development into a modern economy. It is estimated to bring about 4 million visitors, which almost certainly means an economic boost. To impress them, the government is now investing heavily into modernization. Plans under the “Leap Into The Future” initiative, which include a gigantic sports stadium, railways, and even development in biotechnology, are worth about €17.8 billion. However, Finance Minister Siniša Mali’s estimate doesn't account for several infrastructure projects, and is only €1.2 billion. Even so, a successful Expo or Expo development process could be Vucic’s saving grace, providing legitimacy for his government. The event has the power to push Serbia back on the path toward prosperity, much-needed when 53.5% of Serbs believe the country is moving in the wrong direction.
Yet, Expo 2027 exacerbated the government’s biggest problem: corruption accusations. Newly passed legal amendments have largely deregulated Expo 2027 facilities, allowing their use without proper use permits and environmental impact assessments before the start of construction. The laws are meant to streamline event preparation by removing legal barriers such as public procurement, or the government’s lengthy process of buying goods from the private sector involving competition and heavy inspection. However, the amendments simultaneously weaken the power of the Organised Crime Prosecutor’s Office (TOK), a specialized Serbian agency that prosecutes high-level crime and corruption. The TOK is currently handling a case regarding “serious crimes against public safety” related to the Novi Sad railway disaster. The new amendments reduce the TOK’s capacity to investigate corruption among SNS officials (what the TOK is already doing), and may leave the agency with fewer public prosecutors. Considering this, critics say that Serbian politicians are using Expo 2027 as an excuse to limit the indepdence of the judiciary. The SNS's true goal of cracking down on corruption allegations is hidden behind litigation. This does nothing to gain the trust of Serbs.
Clearly, there’s a lot on the line. Serbia has been a candidate for European Union membership since 2012. The bloc is a huge economic partner, even when compared to China and Russia. Critically, the EU has already criticized Serbia’s reformed judicial system under the new laws, hurting Serbia’s case to join. The ongoing pressure from protests may also force Vucic to call snap elections by the end of 2026 to strengthen his power. Yet, as it stands, he and his SNS are in no position to win convincingly as they did in 2023. Without a doubt, Expo 2027 has shaken up Serbia’s political climate.
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