Serbian PM Vucevic resigns

Vucevic has been under fire over the collapse of a concrete awning which killed 15 people at the recently reconstructed Novi Sad Railway Station both as Prime Minister and as the former Mayor of that northern city.

“The thing that overshadowed this government was the Novi Sad tragedy, the loss of 15 lives, with 2 seriously injured. From that moment Serbia seems to have been stuck in that tragedy,” he said adding that the tragedy was politically abused with attempts to capitalize on the loss of lives.

Vucevic said that Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric is also resigning, meeting the protesters’ demands. “We feel we are objectively responsible for what happened in Novi Sad and are resigning and paying the political price. This should ease tensions and bring back dialogue,” he said.

He said he had a long conversation with President Aleksandar Vucic who accepted his decision and added that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has to show the highest level of responsibility to prevent things from spilling over into the streets.