Resignation of Serbian PM Vucevic Following Protests
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Synopsis
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has announced his resignation amid mass protests following a deadly incident at the Novi Sad railway station. His departure is expected to lead to early elections as tensions rise over government accountability and corruption.
Key Takeaways
- Vucevic's resignation comes after weeks of protests.
- The canopy collapse in Novi Sad led to public outrage.
- Protests highlight issues of government corruption.
- Vucevic served as PM for under a year.
- His prior roles included Deputy PM and Mayor of Novi Sad.
Belgrade, January 28 (NationPress) Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic declared his resignation on Tuesday during a press conference held at the government headquarters in Belgrade, attributing it to "elevated tensions" stemming from a catastrophic incident at the Novi Sad railway station in November of the previous year.
Vucevic, along with other current ministers, will oversee the government in a technical capacity until a new administration is elected, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The resignation followed weeks of substantial anti-corruption demonstrations ignited by the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad last November, which claimed the lives of 15 individuals.
This canopy collapse has emerged as a critical issue, highlighting broader dissatisfaction with the increasingly autocratic governance of Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The event has intensified long-standing grievances regarding corruption and inadequate oversight in construction projects, further amplifying critiques of Vucic's administration, which has been accused of eroding democratic freedoms while seeking European Union membership.
Vucevic's resignation is anticipated to prompt an early parliamentary election. Serbia's parliament is required to either endorse the resignation and establish a new government or convene snap elections within 30 days.
On Monday, tens of thousands of demonstrators, including striking university students, assembled for a 24-hour blockade of a key intersection in Belgrade. The students, who have been protesting for several weeks, are demanding accountability related to the canopy collapse, attributing it to governmental corruption.
Having served as Prime Minister for less than a year, Vucevic previously held the roles of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence from 2022 to 2024.
He also served as the mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022.
Throughout his career, he received multiple prestigious accolades, including the Charter of Honourary Senator from the Senate of the Economy of Serbia in 2014. That same year, he was awarded the “Captain Misa Anastasijevic” award for his leadership in fostering European values in Novi Sad. Under his stewardship, the city was named the European Youth Capital in 2019 and the European Capital of Culture in 2021.
