Prime Minister Milos Vucevic of Serbia resigned on Tuesday amid escalating anti-corruption protests triggered by a fatal railway station incident in Novi Sad that claimed 15 lives.
The protests, which began locally in Novi Sad, have expanded to Belgrade, drawing thousands of participants, including students and teachers. Demonstrators attribute the station collapse to governmental corruption under President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration.
Before Vucevic’s resignation, both the construction and transportation minister and the trade minister had already stepped down. At a news conference, Vucevic stated his resignation was intended to “defuse tensions,” adding that Novi Sad’s mayor would also depart. “With this, we have met all demands of the most radical protesters,” he noted.
While protests have remained largely peaceful, including a student blockade of a major Belgrade intersection, tension escalated Monday when three protesters in Novi Sad were attacked. One woman was hospitalized with head injuries, with protesters attributing the violence to members of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Vucevic announced an investigation and suggested foreign interference without providing evidence.
The developments raise questions about President Vucic’s position. His party won a decisive victory in 2023’s snap election but faces accusations from opposition parties and watchdogs regarding voter bribery, media suppression, violence against opponents, corruption, and organized crime connections. Vucic and allies reject these claims.
According to Mario Bikarski, senior Europe analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, Vucic is likely to maintain his position, partly due to limited political alternatives. However, Bikarski predicts continued unrest, noting that governmental reluctance to address protesters’ demands has undermined institutional trust.
Serbia’s situation carries international significance given its ties to Russia and the West and its EU candidate status. The opposition Kreni-Promeni party advocates for an expert-led interim government approved by student protest leaders, encouraging opposition participation in potential elections.
President Vucic is scheduled to address the nation at 19:00 GMT.”
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