Serbian President Floats Possibility of Snap Election Amid Growing Anti-Government Protests
Prime Minister’s Resignation Sparks Uncertainty
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has floated the possibility of a snap election in April after his prime minister, Milos Vucevic, resigned on Tuesday amid growing anti-government protests. Vucevic’s resignation is the highest-ranking official to step down since a roof collapse at a railway station in the city of Novi Sad in November killed 15 people and sparked months of demonstrations.
Government in Crisis
Vucevic’s resignation has destabilised Vucic’s government and prompted the opposition to call for the formation of an interim government. In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Vucic said that his party would take 10 days to decide whether to form a majority government or hold a snap parliamentary election.
"The new election could be held in April," Vucic said. "An interim government is out of question." The statement marks a stark turnaround for Vucic, whose party easily won a snap election in 2023 but who has come under increasing pressure more recently.
Protests Continue
What began as small gatherings in Novi Sad have ballooned and spread to the capital Belgrade in recent weeks. Students, teachers, and other workers have turned out in their thousands to blame the station disaster on corruption within Vucic’s government. The minister for construction, transportation, and infrastructure, and the trade minister have already stepped down because of the incident, but that failed to quell the protests.
Students Unfazed
Students who have been leading the protests were not mollified. "Those who have been fuelling tensions for the past 13 years are now trying to defuse tensions," Lazar Stojakovic of the Faculty for Organisational Science at Belgrade University posted on X. "It is not going to work, you were beating us, running us over (with cars), you beat up our colleagues in Novi Sad, See you in the street again."
Vucic’s Reputation
Vucic is seen as a strategic player on the international stage in view of Serbia’s historic ties with Russia and the West. Serbia is a candidate to join the European Union, although it must normalise relations with its neighbour and former province Kosovo. Opposition parties and rights watchdogs accuse him and his SNS party of bribing voters, stifling media freedom, violence against opponents, corruption, and ties with organised crime. Vucic and his allies deny these allegations.
Protesters Demand Interim Government
The opposition Kreni-Promeni party has called for an interim government made up of experts approved by the students. It has urged other opposition parties not to boycott elections if they are held.
Violence Erupts
The protests, which included students putting up a blockade at a main junction in Belgrade this week, have been largely peaceful. However, three protesters in Novi Sad were attacked on Monday and blamed members of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). A young woman sustained head injuries and was hospitalised. The police detained four people over the incident, the prosecutor’s office in Novi Sad said in a statement.
Conclusion
The resignation of Prime Minister Vucevic has plunged Serbia into uncertainty, with the possibility of a snap election on the horizon. The protests, which have been ongoing for months, show no signs of slowing down, and the opposition is calling for an interim government to be formed. The fate of Vucic’s government remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the people of Serbia are demanding change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What triggered the protests in Serbia?
A: The protests were sparked by a roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad in November that killed 15 people and was blamed on corruption within the government.
Q: Who is responsible for the collapse?
A: The minister for construction, transportation, and infrastructure, and the trade minister have already stepped down due to the incident, but the full extent of their responsibility is still being investigated.
Q: What is the opposition demanding?
A: The opposition is calling for an interim government to be formed and for an election to be held as soon as possible.
Q: Will the protests continue?
A: Yes, the protests are ongoing and show no signs of slowing down. The students who have been leading the protests are determined to see through their demands for change.