Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stepped down as the leader of his populist party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), amid growing anti-government protests. Vucic's decision comes as he plans to form a broader political movement and faces mounting public pressure. He was replaced by Milos Vucevic, the current defense minister, at a party gathering in Kragujevac.
Vucic, who had been criticized for simultaneously holding the positions of party leader and president, expressed his gratitude to the SNS members for his 11-year tenure as their leader. He assured them that he would remain a party member.
The ongoing protests, the largest in years against Vucic and his government, were sparked by two mass shootings earlier this month that resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including many children. Protesters are demanding the resignation of top officials and the revocation of licenses for pro-government media broadcasting violent content and hosting criminals.
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Critics accuse Vucic and his party of fueling societal divisions and suppressing democratic freedoms during their time in power. Vucic, however, denies these allegations. In response to the protests, he announced plans to form a national movement in June, aiming to promote unity by including other parties, experts, and prominent individuals.
The opposition parties have pledged to continue the demonstrations until their demands, including the removal of the interior minister and the intelligence chief, are met. Reports also suggest that public employees in smaller towns were coerced into attending Vucic's recent pro-government rally under the threat of job loss.
