Serbian Trade Minister Tomislav Momirovic resigned on Wednesday November 20. He is the second member of the government to leave since the collapse of the concrete canopy at Novi Sad station which killed at least 15 people, including several children, according to state media. Shortly after, tens of thousands of Serbs demonstrated demanding justice and the departure of members of the government, including the Prime Minister, accused of corruption and nepotism.
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Some 20,000 people demonstrated Tuesday evening in front of Novi Sad station, where the accident took place, to demand in particular the resignation of the Prime Minister – and former mayor of the city, Milos Vucevic.
“ I announce my resignation from the post of Minister of Commerce. I thank the President of the Serbian Republic Aleksandar Vucic for his trust », According to the letter published by RTS. Tomislav Momirovic was Minister of Construction under the previous government, when the renovation work on the Novi Sad station was launched. His successor, Goran Vesic, resigned on November 4.
The work had been completed for a few weeks when the building’s concrete canopy collapsed on November 1, instantly killing 14 people aged 6 to 74, and injuring three others. One of the injured died on November 17 from his injuries, bringing the death toll to 15.
Since the accident, the opposition Serbia and part of the population are demanding the resignation of political leaders and the publication of contracts signed with the companies that participated in the work. A consortium made up of four companies – the Chinese China Railway International and China Communications Construction, the French Egis and the Hungarian Utiber – was responsible for the renovation.
An investigation that stalls
Although investigators have interviewed more than 70 people since the investigation opened, no one has been arrested or indicted, fueling the anger of demonstrators who have been gathering regularly since November 1. Several of them were arrested during a November 5 rally in Novi Sad, and some remain in detention.
“ Let Serbia stop so the investigation can move forward “, ” How many other children died? “, ” Prison ! Prison ! », could be heard and read in the processions. They are taking the government to task, accused of being negligent for too long in monitoring public infrastructure construction projects which are multiplying across the country.
The arrests reignited the anger of the opposition: several deputies blocked the public prosecutor’s office and the courts of Novi Sad on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, demanding progress in the investigation.
In a statement to the press on Tuesday, November 19, Mr. Vucic estimated that “ no one intentionally caused the tragedy, but ignorance, incompetence and irresponsibility cannot absolve anyone “, adding that it was possible to wear ” a political and moral responsibility even when totally innocent “. And announcing “ new resignations, in the government and elsewhere “.