Serbian PM resigns amid ongoing protests following Novi Sad train station collapse

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on January 28, citing the ongoing protests that have gripped the country since the deadly collapse of a train station in Novi Sad last November.

The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 15 people, has sparked widespread public outrage, with many blaming corruption, poor construction oversight, and nepotism for the incident, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

"It is my appeal for everyone to calm down the passions and return to dialogue," Vucevic said during a press conference. He emphasized that his resignation was intended to help de-escalate tensions and pave the way for a more constructive political environment.

The resignation must now be confirmed by the Serbian parliament, which will have 30 days to either elect a new government or call a snap election. Vucevic, who has served as prime minister for less than a year, is a close ally of President Aleksandar Vucic.

Addressing the media, Vucevic described his resignation as an "irrevocable decision," explaining that he had discussed the matter in a lengthy meeting with President Vucic. "We talked about everything, and he accepted my arguments," Vucevic said. "So in order to avoid further complicating things, so we do not further raise tensions in society, I made this decision."

Vucevic previously served as the mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022, during which time renovations were carried out at the now-collapsed train station. His decision to step down follows repeated protests demanding greater accountability and transparency in the aftermath of the tragedy.

By Vafa Guliyeva