Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned from office, paving the way for an early presidential election and allowing him to pursue a bid for prime minister in next month’s parliamentary vote.
Vučić announced his resignation on Sunday, September 27, ending his second and final five-year presidential term. His resignation came seven months before his mandate was due to expire. The decision comes as Serbia prepares for snap parliamentary elections on October 25, amid nearly two years of student-led protests and growing public anger over alleged corruption and government accountability.
Vučić said his administration had preserved peace and stability during his time in office. He has been a dominant figure in Serbian politics since becoming prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017.
Under Serbia’s constitution, Vučić cannot seek a third presidential term. His resignation allows him to lead the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) into the parliamentary election and potentially become prime minister if the party forms the next government.
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić is set to serve as acting president following Vučić’s departure. Presidential elections must be completed within 90 days, with the first round expected before the end of December.
Protests Triggered Political Crisis
The protests that have challenged Vučić’s government were initially sparked by the November 2024 collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.
Student-led demonstrations subsequently expanded into a wider movement involving teachers, workers, farmers and other sections of society. Protesters have accused the government of corruption, a lack of transparency and political interference in state institutions.
The government and Vučić’s allies have rejected allegations that they are responsible for the problems highlighted by demonstrators. The upcoming parliamentary election will see the ruling SNS and its allies face the student-led Students Win movement and European Serbia, a coalition of pro-Western opposition parties.
According to Serbian public broadcaster RTS, Vučić has also used his final period in office to pardon 49 people. This includes 23 students and party loyalists accused or convicted of offences connected to the protests.
The October parliamentary election will therefore be followed closely for its domestic implications.
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