Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned on Tuesday, becoming the highest-ranking official to step down in response to mass protests that have swept across the Balkan country.
The capital, Belgrade, has been the epicenter of anti-government rallies since November, prompted by a roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad, the country’s second-largest city, which killed 15 people.
Protesters, including students, teachers and workers, have taken to the streets in their thousands, blaming the tragedy on alleged corruption within the government of populist President Aleksandar Vučić.
Tensions mounted on Monday when protesters staged a 24-hour blockade at a major traffic intersection in Belgrade, heaping pressure on the authorities.
Vučević’s resignation comes just a day after the powerful Vučić announced plans for “an urgent and sweeping reshuffle of the government” in light of the unrest.
However, Vučević’s decision to leave appears to be linked to allegations of violence against protesters by supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad on Monday night.
One person, a 23-year-old woman named Ana, was hospitalized with severe injuries after she was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants wielding baseball bats, local media reported.
The alleged assault occurred after students placed a sticker on a garbage can outside the headquarters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), reading “3 Months, 3 Bridges,” referring to their plans to block three bridges in the northern Serbian city where the railway roof collapsed.
Vučević said that he needed to take “the highest degree of responsibility” for the event and step down.
“I wish Ana a speedy recovery, she was given all the medical help;, she decided to continue treatment at home, the attack on her is unacceptable and deserves condemnation. I expect the attackers to be arrested,” he said.
But he also hinted at foreign involvement in the protests that have shaken Serbia, saying: “Everything after what happened, the roadblocks of intersections, roads, bridges, misunderstanding each other... No matter how much we [the government] tried to calm the passion, something always happened according to some dark scenario some invisible hand always created a new incident and further raised tensions in society.”
Nikola Ćurčin, vice president of the Independent Teachers’ Union of Serbia, told TVP World that Vučević’s decision to go was “a way to stop this outrage that will come” in protests later on Tuesday in Novi Sad, where the former prime minister once served as mayor.
He added that Vučević’s resignation was “not enough” for the protesters, who intend to keep on fighting, despite some concessions from the government.
He said: “What the students, teachers, farmers, and the general public in Serbia want is the stopping of corruption and enforcement of the rule of law.
“What we really want is for the prosecutors and the judiciary to prosecute those responsible. So, these protests won’t stop until we see responsibility in court, see who is responsible for violence and, mainly, see who is responsible for the catastrophe in which 15 people died.”
Key government figures have adopted a milder tone towards the ongoing protests in recent days, emphasizing reconciliation and dialogue, having initially hit out at protesters and alleging foreign interference.
Reflecting on the tragedy in Novi Sad, Vučević acknowledged its lasting effect on his government, adding: “The thing that overshadowed this government was the Novi Sad tragedy, the loss of 15 lives, with two seriously injured. From that moment Serbia seems to have been stuck in that tragedy.”
Vučević also announced that the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, is also stepping down from his post.
“We feel we are objectively responsible for what happened in Novi Sad and are resigning and paying the political price. This should ease tensions and bring back dialogue,” he said.
Vučević’s resignation comes amid growing discontent within Serbia over the policies of the ruling SNS government, which has been criticized for its autocratic tendencies and undermining democratic freedoms in the country while at the same time seeking European Union membership.
Protesters, including students, teachers and workers, have taken to the streets in their thousands, blaming the tragedy on alleged corruption within the government of populist President Aleksandar Vučić.
Tensions mounted on Monday when protesters staged a 24-hour blockade at a major traffic intersection in Belgrade, heaping pressure on the authorities.
Vučević’s resignation comes just a day after the powerful Vučić announced plans for “an urgent and sweeping reshuffle of the government” in light of the unrest.
However, Vučević’s decision to leave appears to be linked to allegations of violence against protesters by supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad on Monday night.
One person, a 23-year-old woman named Ana, was hospitalized with severe injuries after she was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants wielding baseball bats, local media reported.
The alleged assault occurred after students placed a sticker on a garbage can outside the headquarters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), reading “3 Months, 3 Bridges,” referring to their plans to block three bridges in the northern Serbian city where the railway roof collapsed.
Vučević said that he needed to take “the highest degree of responsibility” for the event and step down.
“I wish Ana a speedy recovery, she was given all the medical help;, she decided to continue treatment at home, the attack on her is unacceptable and deserves condemnation. I expect the attackers to be arrested,” he said.
But he also hinted at foreign involvement in the protests that have shaken Serbia, saying: “Everything after what happened, the roadblocks of intersections, roads, bridges, misunderstanding each other... No matter how much we [the government] tried to calm the passion, something always happened according to some dark scenario some invisible hand always created a new incident and further raised tensions in society.”
PM’s resignation ‘not enough’
Nikola Ćurčin, vice president of the Independent Teachers’ Union of Serbia, told TVP World that Vučević’s decision to go was “a way to stop this outrage that will come” in protests later on Tuesday in Novi Sad, where the former prime minister once served as mayor.
He added that Vučević’s resignation was “not enough” for the protesters, who intend to keep on fighting, despite some concessions from the government.
He said: “What the students, teachers, farmers, and the general public in Serbia want is the stopping of corruption and enforcement of the rule of law.
“What we really want is for the prosecutors and the judiciary to prosecute those responsible. So, these protests won’t stop until we see responsibility in court, see who is responsible for violence and, mainly, see who is responsible for the catastrophe in which 15 people died.”
Tragedy that froze Serbia
Key government figures have adopted a milder tone towards the ongoing protests in recent days, emphasizing reconciliation and dialogue, having initially hit out at protesters and alleging foreign interference.
Reflecting on the tragedy in Novi Sad, Vučević acknowledged its lasting effect on his government, adding: “The thing that overshadowed this government was the Novi Sad tragedy, the loss of 15 lives, with two seriously injured. From that moment Serbia seems to have been stuck in that tragedy.”
Vučević also announced that the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, is also stepping down from his post.
“We feel we are objectively responsible for what happened in Novi Sad and are resigning and paying the political price. This should ease tensions and bring back dialogue,” he said.
Vučević’s resignation comes amid growing discontent within Serbia over the policies of the ruling SNS government, which has been criticized for its autocratic tendencies and undermining democratic freedoms in the country while at the same time seeking European Union membership.
More In Politics MORE...
