Serbian President Vučić to Resign, Calls for Early Elections

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić declared on Saturday that he intends to resign from his post within the coming weeks, simultaneously calling for early presidential and parliamentary elections. The announcement, reported from Belgrade, marks a significant political shift in the country.

Vučić's decision comes after a prolonged period of widespread anti-corruption protests that have gripped Serbia for the past year and a half. These demonstrations, initially ignited by the tragic collapse of a train station canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad that claimed 16 lives, have since broadened in scope. Recently, students in Novi Sad honored the victims and renewed their demands for early national elections.

"I will be president for only a few more weeks, and then I will resign," Vučić stated during a rally of his supporters in Belgrade. His current, second and final term is scheduled to end in mid-2027. Vučić affirmed his support for his party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), in the upcoming elections, including the early parliamentary vote originally slated for 2027. However, he did not specify the exact timeline for his resignation or the dissolution of parliament, a necessary step for holding early elections.

Protesters, opposition parties, and human rights organizations have pointed to the train station disaster as evidence of broader government mismanagement and corruption. Activists from the student movement have expressed their determination to challenge Vučić and the SNS in the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. The political landscape in Serbia appears poised for significant change as the nation heads toward an early electoral contest.

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I will be president for only a few more weeks, and then I will resign.