Serbia’s political turmoil continued with the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević on Wednesday.
Belgrade’s parliament has confirmed the resignation that Vučević offered on January 28.
Vučević is the head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and an ally of the populist president, Aleksandar Vučić.
Vučić said he will offer new parliamentary elections —to be held on June 8— if a new government cannot be formed by parliament in the next 30 days.
“The Serbian parliament... has acknowledged the resignation of the Prime Minister, and the government mandate ends,” parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic said. “The deadline for ... the new government is April 18 at midnight.”
Serbia has been gripped by upheaval since November when the collapse of a newly built concrete roof at Novi Sad triggered nationwide student-led protests.
Many Serbians attribute the Novi Sad disaster, which killed 15 people, to alleged rampant corruption, which they tie to the decade-long leadership of Vučić and his SNS.
Months of anti-government protests culminated in massive demonstrations in Belgrade on Saturday, which were among the largest the country had ever seen.
The Public Meeting Archive, an independent monitor, said between 275,000-325,000 people turned out in Serbia’s capital.
The students have four demands, including the release of documents related to the railway station disaster, accountability for those responsible, and the prosecution of all those involved in the attack on students and professors during the protests.
In December, polls showed that the SNS still had considerable support, with 48.3% of the electorate backing the party, although anti-government sentiment has grown since.
The opposition has dismissed an early vote and wants an interim government free of SNS influence before elections are held, the Reuters news agency reported. Vučić has repeatedly rejected this option.
Vučević is the head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and an ally of the populist president, Aleksandar Vučić.
Vučić said he will offer new parliamentary elections —to be held on June 8— if a new government cannot be formed by parliament in the next 30 days.
“The Serbian parliament... has acknowledged the resignation of the Prime Minister, and the government mandate ends,” parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic said. “The deadline for ... the new government is April 18 at midnight.”
Serbia has been gripped by upheaval since November when the collapse of a newly built concrete roof at Novi Sad triggered nationwide student-led protests.
Many Serbians attribute the Novi Sad disaster, which killed 15 people, to alleged rampant corruption, which they tie to the decade-long leadership of Vučić and his SNS.
Months of anti-government protests culminated in massive demonstrations in Belgrade on Saturday, which were among the largest the country had ever seen.
The Public Meeting Archive, an independent monitor, said between 275,000-325,000 people turned out in Serbia’s capital.
The students have four demands, including the release of documents related to the railway station disaster, accountability for those responsible, and the prosecution of all those involved in the attack on students and professors during the protests.
In December, polls showed that the SNS still had considerable support, with 48.3% of the electorate backing the party, although anti-government sentiment has grown since.
The opposition has dismissed an early vote and wants an interim government free of SNS influence before elections are held, the Reuters news agency reported. Vučić has repeatedly rejected this option.
