Aleksandar Vučić resigns as Serbia president ahead of prime minister bid amid protests

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned from office, clearing the way for him to lead the ruling Serbian Progressive Party into an early parliamentary election on 25 October. The move comes as Serbia faces prolonged protests linked to the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Vučić said he was resigning the presidency to pursue the prime ministership, a post that is formally more powerful in Serbia's political system.

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The resignation was announced on Sunday and follows constitutional limits that prevent Vučić from seeking a third presidential term. His second term would otherwise have ended in May next year. He has held either the presidency or the prime ministership since 2014, making him one of the dominant figures in Serbian politics for more than a decade.

The upcoming vote is expected to test both his personal influence and the strength of the Serbian Progressive Party against a youth-backed protest movement. The protests began after the Novi Sad station disaster and have grown into a wider campaign focused on accountability and corruption. University students have been among the most visible voices demanding answers over the tragedy.

The governing party now faces a challenge from a movement that has built momentum over nearly two years and is seeking to end Vučić's long period in power. The election therefore carries significance beyond a routine change in office, because it will help determine whether his political project can continue in a new form. Vučić's decision also reflects the unusual balance of power in Serbia's system, where the prime minister is formally more powerful than the president.

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Despite that, Vučić has remained the central decision-maker through both offices, often shaping government policy and public messaging. His resignation suggests a strategy to retain influence while adapting to constitutional limits and the pressures created by the protests. It also places the Serbian Progressive Party at the centre of the campaign, with the party's performance likely to determine the next government.

The broader background is a political landscape marked by sustained tension and public dissatisfaction. In recent weeks, Vučić has toured the country with extensive media coverage, opening roads, offering financial assistance and cheaper medicines, and visiting voters at home. He has also faced criticism from Serbia's independent Bureau for Social Research, which filed a complaint alleging abuse of a public institution to promote his party.

That complaint has been dismissed by Vučić, but it adds to the scrutiny surrounding the election campaign. What remains unclear is whether Vučić's resignation will strengthen his party's position or deepen opposition to it. The key developments to watch are the 25 October ballot, the scale of turnout, and whether the protest movement can translate public anger into electoral gains.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stepped down as head of state, opening the way for him to seek the post of prime minister if his party wins next month's parliamentary election. The resignation was announced on Sunday, ahead of the October 25 vote. It marks a significant shift in Serbia's political leadership at a time when the country is preparing for a key national contest.

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According to the confirmed details, Vucic is expected to run as the Serbian Progressive Party's candidate for prime minister. The move follows his announcement that he would resign the presidency so he could formally pursue the role. Vucic has held either the office of prime minister or president since 2014, making him one of the central figures in Serbian politics for more than a decade.

The immediate consequence is that Serbia enters the election period with a major change at the top of the state. The resignation also raises the stakes for the parliamentary vote, because the outcome will determine whether Vucic can return to executive office in a different role. The Serbian Progressive Party remains the key political vehicle in that process, and its performance in the election will shape the next government.

The development matters because it links the presidency directly to the formation of the next administration. In parliamentary systems, the balance between the head of state and the head of government can be politically important, especially when a dominant party seeks to retain power through a new mandate. Vucic's move also underlines the continuing influence of his party in Serbia's political landscape.

Vucic's long tenure since 2014 provides the background to this transition. Over that period, he has been a leading figure in both government and state office, and his decision to leave the presidency now suggests a deliberate strategy ahead of the vote. The timing indicates that the election campaign will be shaped not only by party competition, but also by the question of who will lead the next government if the Serbian Progressive Party prevails.

What remains unclear is the full shape of the post-election government and whether Vucic's bid for prime minister will succeed. The key point to watch is the October 25 parliamentary election and the response of voters to his move. The result will determine whether this resignation becomes a temporary transition or the start of a new phase in his political career.

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