Serbian President Vučić Announces Resignation, Calls for Early Elections Amid Protests

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, facing sustained anti-government protests, announced on Saturday that he will resign from his post within weeks and called for early presidential and parliamentary elections. Vučić, who has been in power for 13 years, stated his intention to step down at a pro-government rally in Belgrade.

The announcement follows over a year of protests, some of which have turned violent. These demonstrations were initially sparked by a deadly roof collapse at a train station in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Protesters, including students, have continued to demand early elections and have linked the tragedy to broader issues of government mismanagement and corruption.

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I will be president for only a few more weeks, after which I will resign.

Vučić's second and final term was not set to expire until mid-2027. He indicated that he would assist his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in securing victory in the anticipated snap elections. However, he did not specify an exact date for his resignation or the dissolution of parliament, which is a prerequisite for holding early elections.

Opposition leaders, such as Savo Manojlović of the student movement "Move-Change," view Vučić's move as an attempt to preempt his inevitable downfall, driven by the growing support for the protest movement. Protesters and human rights organizations accuse Vučić and his allies of widespread corruption, ties to organized crime, and restricting press freedom, allegations that Vučić and his party consistently deny. Serbia's aspirations for European Union membership hinge on improving the rule of law, ensuring free and fair elections, and combating corruption and organized crime.

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Through resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections, Vučić is trying to anticipate his inevitable fall, caused by protests and the student movement, which has more support than him.