By Zoey
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Saturday that he intends to resign within the coming weeks, paving the way for early presidential and parliamentary elections after months of sustained anti-government demonstrations that have placed his administration under mounting political pressure.
The surprise announcement marks a dramatic shift in Serbia’s political landscape and comes after more than a year of nationwide protests fueled by allegations of corruption, government mismanagement and demands for greater political accountability.
Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for the past 13 years, said he would step down before the end of his second and constitutionally final presidential term, which was originally scheduled to conclude in mid-2027.
Speaking to thousands of supporters gathered at a pro-government rally in the capital, Belgrade, Vucic confirmed that his time in office was drawing to a close.
“I will be president for only a couple of weeks, and then I will resign,” he told the crowd.
Although he confirmed his intention to leave office, Vucic did not specify the exact date of his resignation or when parliament would be dissolved, a legal step required before early parliamentary elections can be held. He also pledged to campaign actively for his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), expressing confidence that the party would remain in power by winning both the presidential and parliamentary contests.
The political crisis has its roots in the deadly collapse of a railway station awning in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024. The tragedy claimed the lives of 16 people and sparked widespread public outrage, with many Serbians accusing authorities of corruption, negligence and poor oversight of public infrastructure projects.
The disaster quickly evolved into a symbol of broader dissatisfaction with the government. Student-led organizations took the lead in organizing nationwide demonstrations, demanding political accountability, stronger anti-corruption measures and early elections. Over the past year and a half, the protests have spread across Serbia, with some demonstrations resulting in violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
Just days before Vucic’s announcement, students gathered in Novi Sad to commemorate the victims of the railway station collapse while renewing calls for snap national elections. Protest organizers have also scheduled another large demonstration in the southeastern town of Kraljevo, signaling that public pressure on the government remains strong despite the president’s decision to step aside.
Opposition leaders argued that Vucic’s resignation reflects the growing strength of the protest movement rather than a voluntary political decision.
Savo Manojlovic, leader of the student-backed Move-Change Movement, said the president was attempting to minimize the political damage caused by months of demonstrations.
According to Manojlovic, Vucic’s decision to resign and call early elections is an effort to act before public dissatisfaction grows even stronger, arguing that the student movement now enjoys broader public support than the president himself.
Opposition parties, student activists and human rights organizations have repeatedly alleged that the Novi Sad disaster exposed systemic corruption within government institutions and serious failures in the management of major public construction projects.
Critics have also accused Vucic and members of his ruling coalition of undermining democratic institutions through political intimidation, restricting media freedom, tolerating corruption and maintaining close relationships with organized crime networks. The Serbian government has consistently rejected those allegations, insisting that it remains committed to democratic governance and the rule of law.
Despite the president’s resignation announcement, opposition groups have indicated they intend to challenge the ruling Serbian Progressive Party vigorously in the upcoming elections, viewing the vote as an opportunity to bring significant political change after more than a decade of Vucic’s leadership.
The developments are also being closely watched by the European Union, as Serbia continues its long-standing bid to become a member of the bloc. While Serbia has been recognized as a candidate country, EU officials have repeatedly stressed that further progress toward membership depends on substantial reforms.
Among the key conditions outlined by Brussels are strengthening the rule of law, ensuring free and fair elections, improving judicial independence, combating corruption and organized crime, and expanding media freedom. The European Union has also urged Serbia to align its foreign policy more closely with the bloc, including adopting sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, a step Belgrade has so far declined to take.
With Vucic preparing to leave office and early elections expected in the near future, Serbia now faces one of its most significant political transitions in more than a decade. The upcoming vote is likely to determine not only the country’s next leadership but also the direction of its democratic reforms, its relationship with the European Union and its broader political future.
Original article
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