Serbian protests force Prime Minister’s resignation
Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned from his post stating his intention to ease tensions, after weeks of protests sparked by a fatal infrastructure collapse. Speaking at an extraordinary press conference in Belgrade on Tuesday, he announced that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had accepted his decision.
Why is it relevant: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, is facing mounting pressure from the ongoing protests, prompting him to announce a major cabinet reshuffle. Vučić has asserted that Serbia is “under attack from abroad” and accused Western governments of financing the demonstrations.
The context: For over two months, thousands of students and citizens in Serbia have been calling for criminal and political accountability following a tragedy in Novi Sad, where on November 1 last year, 15 lives were lost when a train station shelter collapsed.
The November tragedy ignited accusations of corruption, negligence, and inadequate government oversight in infrastructure projects. The disaster became a rallying point for public outrage, fuelling weeks of protests throughout Serbia.
The protesters are calling for the release of complete documentation regarding the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station to establish accountability for the accident. They are also demanding the identification and prosecution of those who attacked demonstrators across Serbia during the post-accident protests. Additional demands include the release of activists detained during the demonstrations, the dismissal of criminal charges against them, and an increase in funding for universities.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Serbia’s outgoing prime minister pointed to a recent violent clash in Novi Sad between protesting students and members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which left a student injured. Vučević stated that this incident was a key factor in his decision to resign in order to reduce tensions.
Vučević also announced the resignation of the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Djuric.
According to the Constitution of Serbia, the Prime Minister must submit their resignation to the Speaker of Parliament while simultaneously informing the President of the Republic and the public of their decision. The Assembly formally confirms the Prime Minister’s resignation during its first regular session. The Government’s mandate officially ends on the day the resignation is confirmed by the Assembly. Following this confirmation, the President of the Republic is required to initiate the process of forming a new Government.
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