Serbian prime minister resigns after Novi Sad protests
Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević announced his resignation on Tuesday after nearly three months of large-scale student protests.
The demonstrations erupted following a tragedy last year, when part of the roof at the Novi Sad train station collapsed, killing 15 people. During a briefing, Vučević explained that his decision was made after discussions with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and that it was irreversible. He also highlighted the political exploitation of the tragedy, which overshadowed the work of the government he led.
“The event that overshadowed this government was the Novi Sad tragedy, the loss of fifteen lives, with two others severely injured. Since then, it feels as though Serbia has been stuck in that tragedy. Unfortunately, we saw once again political abuse of that tragedy and attempts to capitalize on a tragic accident,” Vučević stated.
Protests have continued in Serbia for almost three months, with demonstrators accusing authorities of corruption and poor-quality repairs that contributed to the Novi Sad disaster. Initially, they demanded an impartial investigation, but their calls later expanded to include resignations, including that of President Vučić. Vučić called for dialogue, offering to pardon arrested protesters, but accused protest organizers of having ties to foreign forces. Following Vučević’s resignation, Serbia may hold early parliamentary elections.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
