“In order not to further raise tensions in society, I made this decision,” Vučević said, adding that he discussed the matter with Vučić, who has been grappling with rising pressure from protests in recent weeks.
Following a deadly canopy collapse at a train station in Novi Sad that killed 15 people on Nov. 1, a wave of protests swept Serbia with the biggest drawing around 100,000 people in December; it was the largest since demonstrations that helped topple longtime ruler Slobodan Milošević in 2000.
The mass protests at universities have extended beyond academia, with farmers, judiciary members and parts of the general public supporting the movement, demanding accountability from Vučić’s government and calling for an end to corruption.
“Let it lead to the calming of passions, let it lead to a return to dialogue,” Vučević said about his exit, after suggesting that polarization in Serbia was boosted by foreign influence and demonstrations were stoked from abroad.
Vučević also announced that the mayor of Novi Sad will step down on Tuesday.
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