A mother who avenged her son and overthrew the government

Diana Herka, the mother of Stefan Herka, one of the 16 victims of the fatal collapse of the canopy of the Novi Sad railway station in Serbia, has become the main figure of the movement that turned the protest against government corruption into a political crisis for the country's government.

According to ambassador Arjan Stefan, Diana's 27-year-old son died on November 1, 2024, when the concrete canopy of the Novi Sad railway station in northern Serbia collapsed. In total, 16 people were killed in this incident, and the youngest victim was a six-year-old girl named Sara Firich.

This incident was criticized due to poor construction quality, negligence of government officials and corruption. The reconstruction of the station was done with the help of China's "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative. Although 13 people were charged in connection with the case, charges against the construction minister and five others were dropped due to lack of evidence. The official investigation is still ongoing.

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"They killed my son with corruption, but they can't silence me," Diana Herka told The Telegraph.

Street protests and political crisis

After this tragedy, a wave of mass protests was formed in Serbia. Protesters with red hands and placards with the slogan "Corruption kills" called for early elections.

Elections were due to be held in December 2027, but pressure from protests forced Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to dissolve parliament and call early elections for October 25.

Now the student movement named "List of students" has become one of the most serious political rivals of the government. However, some observers worry that the government will influence the outcome of the election to maintain power.

The upcoming elections are not just a competition for domestic power; It can also change the direction of Serbia's foreign policy. During the past years, Vucic has tried to maintain his relations with both Russia and the European Union.

According to the survey of the Serbian Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability, 42% of people want closer relations with the European Union, and 30% consider Russia to be a more suitable option.

Despite this, structural corruption, cost of living and the state of the health system are among the most important concerns of voters.

Diana Herka went on a hunger strike in front of the parliament for more than two weeks last year to hold the authorities accountable. He says his goal is that no mother in Serbia loses her child due to corruption and negligence.

He emphasizes: "To get rid of Vucic, we need the help of all Europe; Because we don't have independent law and police in Serbia, and all institutions are under his control."