Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on Tuesday morning amidst escalating student protests following the tragic collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1. The protests have also been fueled by the government’s harsh reaction to efforts to honor the victims.

With Vucevic’s resignation, he becomes the third minister to step down in relation to the Novi Sad incident, following the resignations of Goran Vesic, the construction, transport, and infrastructure minister, and Tomislav Momirovic, the internal and external trade minister, both of whom left their positions in November. Vucevic cited the violent assaults on students in Novi Sad the previous evening as a key reason for his departure.

“As part of this political party that I represent, it is imperative that we demonstrate the utmost accountability. We must be seen as the most responsible. This is why, after the events of last night in Novi Sad, I have made the irrevocable decision to resign from the role of prime minister,” he stated.

Five students were assaulted in Novi Sad on Monday night, with the assailants reportedly linked to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

One of the victims, a 23-year-old female student, remains hospitalized. Some students were attacked while they were spray-painting messages on a bin in front of the party’s offices, calling for a protest to be held in Novi Sad on Saturday.

While Vucevic condemned the violence, he attempted to minimize its significance, asserting that “someone was merely doodling on the party premises,” and those inside the office “felt compelled to respond.”

Additionally, Vucevic confirmed that Milan Djuric, the mayor of Novi Sad, will also resign.

The protesters are demanding accountability from President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration regarding the fatal incident at the Novi Sad railway station in November, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people. Protesters suspect that official corruption or negligence may have led to the collapse of the outdoor concrete canopy at the station, which had recently undergone renovations.

The demonstrators have outlined four key demands: the release of all documents pertaining to the railway station refurbishment; the prosecution of those responsible for the attacks on students and faculty during the protests, along with their dismissal if they are public officials; cessation of the legal proceedings against students arrested during the protests; and a 20% increase to the budget allocated for higher education.

In a previous effort to defuse tensions, Vucic held a press conference on Monday evening alongside Vucevic and parliament speaker Ana Brnabic, advocating for “dialogue” and announcing an imminent cabinet reshuffle.

During the ongoing protests, students have been occupying university buildings for nearly two months, following an incident on November 22 where a protester was assaulted outside the Belgrade Faculty of Dramatic Arts.

Regular silent memorial protests lasting 15 minutes have been conducted in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and other cities to honor the victims of the Novi Sad railway station disaster.

The canopy’s collapse occurred after significant renovation work that commenced in 2021, as part of a Chinese-led enhancement of Serbia’s railway infrastructure.

These renovations were promoted during the 2022 election campaign, but construction continued until July 2024, at which point authorities claimed the station had been reconstructed “to European standards.”

Thirteen individuals, including the construction minister at the time, have been charged with jeopardizing public safety in connection with the canopy collapse.

Vucevic, who took over as prime minister in May 2024 following Brnabic, is regarded as a trusted ally of Vucic, who appointed him president of the ruling SNS in May 2023.

Prior to his ministerial role, he was the mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022 and later served as defense minister.

His tenure as mayor was marked by controversies, especially concerning urban planning, including the abandonment of plans to demolish the Sports and Business Centre of Vojvodina, SPENS, in response to public outcry.

Additionally, Vucevic has connections to Vucic’s brother, Andrej, and has been engaged in legal measures to assert both men’s innocence against criminal allegations. He filed criminal complaints against Vucic twice and once against his brother to publicly clarify their lack of criminal ties.

A native of Novi Sad, Vucevic holds a law degree and practiced in his family’s legal office from 1999 to 2012.