Serbia’s Prime Minister Resigns as Anticorruption Protests Persist

Serbia’s Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, following months of protests sparked by a deadly train station collapse in Novi Sad, the country’s second-largest city. The tragedy, which occurred in November 2024, claimed 15 lives and ignited widespread public outrage.

Vucevic, a close ally of President Aleksandar Vucic, said his decision aimed to reduce tensions gripping the country since the incident.

“So in order to avoid further complicating things, so we do not further raise tensions in society, I made this decision,” he said during a press conference in Belgrade.

Vucevic described his resignation as an “irrevocable decision” and confirmed that he and his ministers would continue in caretaker roles until a new government is formed. He also announced the resignation of Novi Sad’s mayor, Milan Duric.

Protesters demand accountability amid escalating tensions

The train station roof collapse in Novi Sad has become a symbol of public discontent. Protesters have linked the disaster to widespread corruption, nepotism, and shoddy construction practices.

Many accuse the government of failing to ensure safety standards during renovation work at the station. Vucevic served as Novi Sad’s mayor from 2012 to 2022, coinciding with the station’s renovations.

Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević has officially resigned. He has stated that the mass protests across the country were organized from abroad. pic.twitter.com/DdYesplVul

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 28, 2025

Nationwide protests have grown in scale and intensity, with demonstrators demanding accountability and swift legal action against those responsible.

An estimated 100,000 people gathered for a demonstration in Belgrade earlier this month, while smaller protests have been held nationwide.

High-profile resignations and legal action

The incident has already led to significant political fallout. Former Transport Minister Goran Vesic stepped down shortly after the collapse and now faces charges, along with more than a dozen others, for their alleged roles in the disaster.

The government has tried to meet some protester’s demands by declassifying documents related to the collapse, but these efforts have failed to defuse public anger.

International reactions and rising criticism

The European Commission has urged all political actors to return to dialogue and avoid further escalation.

A spokesperson expressed concern over reports of violence against demonstrators, including an incident on Monday (27th January 2025) night where a female student was hospitalized after clashes between government supporters and opposition protesters.

Serbia, an EU candidate since 2011, faces scrutiny over persistent corruption, which the commission has identified as a significant issue in its latest progress report.

A crisis of trust in government

The protests show no signs of easing, with many Serbians viewing the government’s handling of the disaster as a reflection of deeper systemic failures.

#Serbia Prime Minister #Vucevic resigns with lame excuse of taking responsibility for rising violence by his @snssrbija party thugs. No such thing as responsibility among #Vucic Progressives. Just a manouvre to pull wool over students’eyes & push them to stop #protests. Will fail pic.twitter.com/0jARK2uIH6

— Zoran Kusovac (@zkusovac) January 28, 2025

While Vucevic’s resignation may temporarily ease tensions, the ongoing demonstrations signal widespread frustration with corruption, governance, and the country’s political leadership.