Last night, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024, which resulted in 15 fatalities, was due to professional negligence rather than corruption.

“While corruption may exist, it played no role in the canopy’s failure. The incident was due to professional error, not because one subcontractor improperly compensated another,” Vučić explained to Insajder television.

Following remarks about his previous statement on the day of the incident claiming the canopy had not undergone reconstruction, he clarified that he meant the canopy had not been structurally reconstructed.

“Structurally, the canopy was not rebuilt. If it had, this accident might have been averted. What I was unaware of was that some individuals added glass, which they believed wouldn’t impact the canopy’s integrity,” Vučić mentioned.

He emphasized again that, structurally, the canopy had not been reconstructed.

“If it had been, someone would have evaluated the static load and the condition of the cables… Whether this was due to a desire to save money, I won’t speculate; it is for the competent authorities to investigate,” Vučić stated.

When asked about claims regarding the quality of work on the canopy, he responded that “naturally, it was poorly executed.”

Vučić noted that it was not his role to act as a prosecutor, asserting that the judiciary would determine accountability.

“It’s crucial that we assess all our errors and procedures, not just to ensure that those responsible are punished, but also to prevent such incidents from happening in the future,” he added.

He affirmed that those found guilty must be held accountable and face imprisonment.

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