Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned on Tuesday after widespread nationwide protests called for him to step down. The protests began following a train crash in November that caused 15 deaths near Novi Sad. The protests grew in intensity after police injured a 20-year-old protester, who was also a student, on January 16th, sparking further outrage.
After months of protests, students launched a 24-hour-long blockade in Belgrade, the country’s capital. The government, led by Vučević, had never faced resistance of this scale since coming to power in 2012. Many businesses allowed employees to join the strikes, and local cafés offered free coffee to protesters. Though initially student-led, the protests gained support from workers and local businesses. The government had already faced criticism for corruption and its close ties with Russia, but it was the handling of the crisis after the train crash that became the catalyst for the unrest.
President Aleksandr Vučić announced an imminent government reshuffle, which led to Vučević’s resignation a day later. Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić called for “lowering tensions and starting talks with students” in response to the blockade. Novi Sad mayor Milan Đurić also resigned shortly after, writing: “As someone who believes in the power of dialogue and mutual understanding, I believe that accepting responsibility and resigning is my human and political obligation and moral duty.”
Despite his resignation, Vučević stated that he would continue to perform his duties as Prime Minister until a successor was elected. According to the Serbian Constitution, the National Assembly must issue a statement announcing the Prime Minister’s resignation, with the term ending immediately, though the PM remains in office until a new one is chosen. Vučević confirmed he had discussed his resignation with President Vučić, who accepted it.
Opposition leader Srđan Milivojević of Democratic Party reacted on social media, writing: “Because of tonight’s attack on our children in Novi Sad, no resignations will save you – neither Vučević’s, nor yours,” referring to President Vučić.
The Green Party also reacted by demanding accountability through an Instagram post, stating: “Serbia must never again be ruled by a criminal octopus whose corrupt dealings take the lives of our citizens, and whose harmful projects cause economic uncertainty, divisions, and conflicts. After the fall of the government, it’s time to jail and return the institutions to the hands of the citizens.”
Serbia’s crackdown on protests drew international attention, with Amnesty publishing a report in December 2024. The report mentions the use of spyware by the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA), including NSO-issued Pegasus software. According to the report, BIA used it to spy on dissidents, such as journalists, activists, and regular civilians, raising concerns about potential violations of Serbian law. European Digital Rights (EDRi) urged the EU to “take action” on December 19th, citing the use of monitoring tools as a reason for Serbian forces to stop cracking down on activists and journalists. The open letter also called for investigations into the matter and was signed by anti-spyware groups from Turkey, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Norway, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, and the Netherlands.
Serbia also faced criticism from the EU, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to meet Vučević, calling it “pointless”. This occurred shortly before the train crash but revealed the EU’s dissatisfaction with Serbia’s relations with Russia. As a result, the talks between Brussels and Belgrade over Serbia’s EU membership have become more difficult, especially following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The announced government reshuffle leaves the country in uncertainty, as it is unclear who will succeed Vučević. Serbia finds itself at a crossroads between European integration and its continued ties with Russia.