Under pressure from months of protests, Serbia’s Prime Minister has resigned. In a press conference, Prime Minister Vucevic expressed hope that his resignation would help ease tensions in the country.
“I urge everyone to calm down and resume dialogue,” he stated. Protests against the government have been ongoing for months in Serbia, with thousands recently taking to the streets in the capital, Belgrade.
The demonstrators are mainly protesting against President Vucic, demanding accountability for the collapse of a train station roof in Novi Sad, which resulted in fifteen fatalities in early November. The station had just been renovated, and protesters attribute the collapse partly to government corruption, citing issues in public project procurement and oversight.
Whether Vucevic’s resignation and statements will lead to tranquility in the country remains uncertain. The Prime Minister is not the first official to resign; the Minister of Transport stepped down shortly after the incident and, along with other officials and those involved in the station’s design and construction, is facing charges.
However, this has not quelled the protests.
Source: NOS