Serbian Government in Flux: Prime Minister Resigns Amid Anti-Corruption Protests

Serbian lawmakers have approved the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, setting in motion a critical period for the Balkan nation, Bloomberg reports.

The decision triggers a timeline that could lead to the formation of a new government or, alternatively, a snap election amid growing public discontent fueled by widespread anti-corruption protests.

The move comes as President Aleksandar Vucic faces his most significant challenge in over a decade of political dominance. Hundreds of thousands of Serbians gathered in Belgrade last Saturday, participating in what has become a series of massive demonstrations. The unrest initially erupted in November following a tragic roof collapse at a railway station that claimed the lives of 15 people. The protests have since evolved into a broader expression of anger against alleged government corruption and mismanagement.

Parliamentary Speaker Ana Brnabic announced on Wednesday that unless a new government is successfully formed by April 18th, early elections will be necessary. The political climate is further complicated by the opposition’s confrontational tactics. Opposition deputies boycotted the debate on Vucevic’s resignation and previously disrupted a parliamentary session earlier this month with smoke grenades and pepper spray aimed at lawmakers from the ruling coalition.

Students and opposition activists have been at the forefront of the protests, directly accusing Vucic and his allies of corruption and mismanagement that they say directly contributed to the tragic railway station collapse. Despite arrests of officials suspected of corruption and several high-profile ministerial resignations in recent months, public anger has remained high, demanding deeper systemic change.

President Vucic has staunchly resisted opposition calls for a transitional, non-partisan government. He has accused his political opponents of attempting to seize power without winning at the ballot box, setting the stage for a potentially contentious period of political maneuvering in Serbia.