Serbian Prime Minister Vučević on Tuesday announced his resignation following prolonged protests against the government over a deadly accident at a train station that claimed the lives of fifteen people.

The nationwide protests began with student demonstrations before expanding rapidly to include labor unions and local communities following the tragic accident at the Novi Sad train station. On November 1, a section of the station’s roof collapsed, killing 15 people and injuring many others.

Announcing his resignation, the Serbian Prime Minister described it as “an act of responsibility to calm the situation in the country and prevent further division within society.” He expressed hope that his decision would “restore normalcy to society and ensure the proper functioning of political institutions.” During a press conference, he also announced the resignation of Novi Sad Mayor Milan Đurić.

Unfortunately, the resignation of Vučević draws inevitable comparisons in the Greek public opinion with the stance of the political leadership. Their government, also under harsh criticism over the 2023 Tempi train crash which killed 57 people, appears reluctant to assume any kind of political responsibility.

On Sunday, massive demonstrations across Greek cities demanded justice for the victims of the Tempi railway accident forcing the Mitsitakis government to accept a pre-agenda debate in Parliament about the matter.

Greece’s railway infrastructure has been in a state of poor maintenance for decades with officials across the political spectrum in public office always promising actions but rarely delivering.

On the one hand, Greeks can see a foreign politician exhibiting some kind of moral fortitude and sensitivity to its citizens’ grievances, while on the other hand, its political class appears completely detached from public sentiment.

Recently, the European Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Greece for failing to comply with the EU railway safety laws (the Railway Safety Directive, Directive 2016/798).

The EC considers that there have been longstanding shortcomings in the implementation of a relevant directive since its entry into force. The failings are dubbed as systemic which stems from a lack of safety culture within the organizations involved.

In Serbia, one of the key demands of the students in Novi Sad was the resignation of both President Vučević and Đurić. Notably, Vučević had served as mayor of Novi Sad when the train station was renovated, only for a portion of the structure to collapse three months later.

On Monday, the protests intensified as students occupied a central highway intersection in Belgrade. The demonstration drew workers, school students, and farmers, who joined the 24-hour blockade with their tractors. This followed a nationwide general strike on Friday, during which lawyers, small business owners, and schools across Serbia ceased operations.

Initially, the protests called for accountability and transparency but soon took on a broader anti-government character, demanding the resignation of President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration and the calling of early elections.

On December 30, prosecutors filed charges against 13 individuals, including the Minister of Transport, who had resigned following the train station tragedy. However, these actions failed to quell the unrest, which has only grown larger.

Last night, President Vučić appeared conciliatory during a press conference, acknowledging mistakes made by his government and inviting students engaged in sit-ins, as well as the broader academic community, to a dialogue.