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Serbia’s PM Milos Vucevic Resign Amidst Anti-Corruption Protests

Serbia’s PM Milos Vucevic steps down following weeks of protests over the Novi Sad tragedy. The railway station collapse, which killed 15, has sparked calls for accountability and highlighted alleged government corruption.

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Serbia’s PM Milos Vucevic Resign Amidst Anti-Corruption Protests

Serbia’s Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has resigned amid weeks of massive anti-corruption protests that began following the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad last November. The tragedy, which claimed 15 lives, including two children, has become a symbol of broader dissatisfaction with President Aleksandar Vucic’s increasingly autocratic governance.

Public anger over alleged corrupt government practices and the lack of accountability forced Milos Vucevic to resign, as tensions surged across the nation.

“It is my appeal for everyone to calm down the passions and return to dialogue,” said Vucevic in a press conference on Tuesday. Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric also made his resignation following the same scenario.

Resignation to Facilitate the Early Parliamentary Elections

The prime minister’s resignation will open the way for an early parliamentary election. Serbia’s parliament has 30 days to confirm a new government or call a snap election. This change happens after ongoing protests in Belgrade where thousands of people joined striking university students on Monday for a 24-hour blockade of a major traffic intersection.

Students have been at the forefront of the protests, demanding justice for the victims of the Novi Sad incident and accountability for the alleged corruption that led to the collapse. The protests, gaining widespread public support, have also seen daily 15-minute traffic blockades across Serbia at 11:52 a.m., the exact time the canopy fell on November 1.

Government Faces Intense Scrutiny Amid Rising Tensions

To calm the unrest, Vucevic, along with President Vucic and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, appealed for dialogue with the student protesters on Monday evening. The prime minister cited a fresh incident as the immediate cause for his resignation. A female student in Novi Sad was reportedly attacked on Tuesday by individuals allegedly affiliated with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. “whenever it seems there is hope to return to social dialogue, to talk … it’s like an invisible hand creates a new incident and tensions mount again,” Vucevic said.

Serbia’s prosecutors have indicted 13 people, including a government minister, in connection with the Novi Sad tragedy. However, the release of former construction minister Goran Vesic from detention has fueled skepticism about the independence of the investigation.

China-Backed Infrastructure Deals Under Scrutiny

The Novi Sad railway station, renovated twice in the last two years under a wider infrastructure deal with Chinese state companies, has come under fire amid accusations of shoddy construction. Protests have also underscored anger over Serbia’s alignment with China for development projects.

Demonstrations turned violent at times with incidents where drivers rammed into protestors, and two young women were injured by such attacks. These issues notwithstanding, the movement has remained adamant about justice for 15 victims and ending systemic corruption.