STORY: Serbian PM announces resignation
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 28, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 29, 2025
LENGTH: 00:00:54
LOCATION: Belgrade
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (Serbian): MILOS VUCEVIC, Serbian Prime Minister

STORYLINE:

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced resignation on Tuesday during an extraordinary press conference at the government building in Belgrade, citing "elevated tensions" caused by a collapse at Novi Sad railway station in November last year, which claimed 15 lives.

SOUNDBITE (Serbian): MILOS VUCEVIC, Serbian Prime Minister
"My irrevocable decision is to resign as prime minister of the Republic of Serbia. Let this lead to calming tensions; let it lead to a return to the course of political and social dialogue. I am very proud of everything we have done as a government. What cast a great shadow over the past year, but certainly also over this government's mandate, is the tragic event in Novi Sad on Nov. 1, 2024, a great tragedy. I can never justify or understand many of these protests, the disruption of life, road blockades, and the obstruction of other citizens' freedom of movement."

Vucevic said that he will perform his duties until a new prime minister is elected, adding that the entire government is currently operating in a "caretaker mandate."

Under Serbian law, once the National Assembly acknowledges the prime minister's resignation, the president must initiate the process of forming a new government. If no government is elected within 30 days, the National Assembly will be dissolved, and elections will be called.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Belgrade.
(XHTV)