Serbian prime minister resigns after protests

Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević announced his resignation after weeks of anti-government protests.

Vučević’s resignation came after demonstrations led by students in the country demanding political change. Vučević, who took office in May, was an important ally of President Aleksandar Vučić.

In a press statement, resigning Prime Minister Vučević said: “Our government failed to pacify the protesters. The political movement to which I belong and the political party that has won many elections must show maximum responsibility.”

Vučević’s statement came on the heels of an action in which thousands of protesters blocked a major intersection in Belgrade for 24 hours. It was the latest in a series of large-scale demonstrations organized across the country.

The collapse of the roof of the railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, in November, which killed 15 people, triggered daily anti-government protests in Belgrade.

The government had publicized some documents related to the roof collapse, but experts from the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade said these documents were incomplete.

A large-scale student strike was organized in Serbia last Friday, and many businesses across the country shut down.

Restaurants, bars, theaters, libraries, and shops supported the strike.

Students leading the protest movement have been organizing demonstrations at universities across the country for months.

Student organizers are demanding greater transparency in the investigation, the release of all documents related to the renovation of the station, the dropping of charges against detained protesters, an end to attacks on protesters, and increased public spending on education.

A criminal complaint has been filed against 13 people, including a government minister and several state officials, in connection with the roof collapse.