Press Releases

01/29/2025

Resignation of the Serbian Prime Minister

A maneuver to maintain the President’s power

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) criticizes yesterday’s resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević as a transparent maneuver to maintain President Aleksandar Vučić’s power despite ongoing protests: “Since the collapse of parts of the roof of a reconstructed train station in Novi Sad in November 2024 – which claimed 15 lives – there has been an ongoing wave of outrage in Serbia. What started as student protests has become a nationwide civil movement and is becoming a serious threat to the President Vučić’s power,” stated Jasna Causevic, STP expert on genocide prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, in Göttingen today. “The protesters are denouncing the deep-rooted corruption, the systematic manipulation of elections, and the suppression of political opponents by the regime of the so-called Progress Party, which has been ruling Serbia based on intimidation and disinformation for the last twelve years.” 

In more than 150 cities, thousands of people have been taking to the streets every day for weeks. Serbian journalist Dinko Gruhonjić, who was honored with the Human Rights Award of the City of Weimar last December, used his acceptance speech to say that he is impressed by the ongoing protests: “What is particularly striking and encouraging is the fact that the overwhelming majority of participants in the largest demonstrations the history of Novi Sad, with 25,000 participants, were young people. A removal of the criminalized regime would a fundamental prerequisite not only for halting the collapse of Serbian society but also for achieving peace and stability in the Western Balkans region, which is primarily destabilized by the regime of Aleksandar Vučić.”

In view of this resistance, Vučić is trying to gain time by tactically resigning Vučević in order to wear down the protesters. According to the constitution, new elections must now take place within 30 days. The STP expects that the government will make massive attempts to manipulate the elections. Together with various Serbian human rights organizations, the STP has been pointing out the systematic persecution of regime critics and the nationalist radicalization with which Vučić is pursuing the goal of a Greater Serbian expansion, stirring up new conflicts in the Western Balkans. Nevertheless, criticism from the EU is still hesitant. Instead of making clear demands to Vučić, he is courted as a reliable partner, especially regarding economic projects such as the controversial issue of Lithium mining,” Causevic added.

The EU must not tolerate this new attempt to mislead. “Instead of vague statements, we need tangible political consequences. Serbia cannot be treated as a candidate for EU membership while protesters are attacked by regime-backed thugs. If the EU fails to finally convince Vučić to uphold democratic principles, this will deprive the protesting people of Serbia of all hopes for a democratic future.”

Jasna Causevic (STP): j.causevic@gfbv.de or +49 551 49906-16

Belma Zulcic (Director of the STP in Sarajevo): bzulcic@gmail.com or +387 61 220 883

Dinko Gruhonjic (Winner of the Weimar Human Rights Prize 2024): dinko.gruhonjic@ff.uns.ac.rs or +381 63 583316