The prime minister of Serbia resigns as anti-corruption demonstrations continue

Milos Vucevic, the prime minister of Serbia, resigned on Tuesday, becoming the nation’s highest-ranking politician to do so in the midst of widespread anti-corruption demonstrations.

After a roof collapsed at a Novi Sad train station, killing fifteen people and sparking calls for Vucevic to resign, anti-government protests broke out.

Students, instructors, and other staff have gathered in large numbers to attribute the station tragedy to corruption in President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration, causing what started as small protests in Novi Sad to grow and extend to the capital Belgrade.

The demonstrations persisted despite the resignations of the trade minister and the minister of building, transportation, and infrastructure due to the event.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Vucevic announced his resignation, saying, “I chose this course of action in order to defuse tensions.” Novi Sad’s mayor will also step down, he claimed.

“With this we have met all demands of the most radical protesters.”
The demonstrations have mostly been nonviolent, however this week students blocked a major Belgrade intersection.

Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) members were implicated for Monday’s attacks on three demonstrators in Novi Sad. A young woman was hospitalized after suffering head injuries.

Vucevic stated that an inquiry is under progress. Without offering any proof, he accused foreign meddling of motivating the demonstrations.

The president, whose party won a 2023 snap election with ease but who has been under mounting pressure, is the focus of many observers’ attention right now.

He and the social media platform are accused by opposition parties and human rights watchdogs of paying votes, suppressing media freedom, inciting violence against opponents, engaging in corruption, and having connections to organized crime. Vucic and his supporters refute these claims.

Vucic’s forced resignation was not anticipated by Mario Bikarski, senior Europe analyst at risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, in part due to the absence of credible and practical political options. But he anticipated that the demonstrations would go on.

“The government’s hesitation to accede to the protestors’ demands has eroded trust in state institutions and the political leadership,” Bikarski noted. “Serbia will likely remain a hotbed for unrest.”

In addition, Vucic is viewed as a significant actor on the global scene because of Serbia’s longstanding connections to the West and Russia. Serbia wants to join the European Union, but first it needs to mend fences with Kosovo, its neighbor and former province.

Students who have spearheaded the demonstrations have endorsed the opposition Kreni-Promeni party’s demand for an interim administration composed of specialists. Other opposition parties have been advised by it not to abstain from any elections that may be held.

It is anticipated that Vucic would speak to the country around 1900 GMT, or 2000 local time.