President Finally Resigns Following Repeated Protests
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced his resignation on Sunday (27/09/2026), seven months before his term was due to expire. The decision marks the end of his second term and paves the way for an early presidential election.
Vucic’s resignation comes as Serbia prepares for an accelerated parliamentary election on 25 October. The move also potentially creates an opportunity for Vucic to return to government as Prime Minister, should the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which he leads, succeed in forming a new government.
Vucic had previously indicated in late June that he planned to step down and that Serbia would hold early parliamentary and presidential elections.
The decision follows allegations from human rights groups that the administration of Vucic and his allies has become increasingly authoritarian. Anti-government protesters have also alleged they were beaten by police and unjustly detained, though the Serbian government has denied these accusations.
On Sunday, hundreds of Vucic’s supporters gathered in front of the Presidential Palace in central Belgrade to show their support.
“This is my last night in this building,” Vucic told the crowd, which was waving flags, minutes before officially resigning, as reported by Reuters.
“I have served you and my homeland, Serbia, faithfully… I am proud of what we have achieved together,” he said.
Under the Serbian constitution, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as acting president until a new president is elected. The presidential election must be concluded within 90 days, with the campaign period lasting between 30 to 60 days.
“By the end of December… we will have the first round of the presidential election,” Vucic stated.
A Test of Vucic’s Power
The parliamentary election scheduled for next month will pit the SNS and its allied parties against ‘Students Win’, a student-led anti-corruption movement, and ‘European Serbia’, a pro-Western coalition of opposition parties.
As of now, ‘Students Win’, ‘European Serbia’, and several other parties have yet to determine the candidates they will nominate for the presidential election.
Vucic, 56, has been one of the most dominant figures in Serbian politics for over a decade. His political career began as a hardline nationalist and Minister of Information during the era of the late Slobodan Milosevic when Serbia was embroiled in war in the 1990s. Subsequently, Vucic served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2012 to 2014 and Prime Minister from 2014 to 2017.
In 2017, he transitioned to the presidency, a role that is largely ceremonial. Nevertheless, Vucic has maintained strong control over both his party and the government.
In foreign policy, Vucic has pursued an approach aimed at maintaining relations with various global powers. Serbia has strengthened ties with China, a major investor, while maintaining its relationship with Russia as a primary natural gas supplier. Simultaneously, Serbia maintains its long-term goal of joining the European Union (EU).
Vucic has also sought to strengthen relations with the United States and Israel.
Vucic’s administration suffered a significant blow in November 2024 when the canopy of a newly renovated railway station in the city of Novi Sad, northern Serbia, collapsed, killing 16 people. This tragedy triggered a wave of national demonstrations driven by students and opposition groups. They demanded accountability from those deemed responsible, transparency in government procurement, an end to systemic corruption, and the holding of early parliamentary elections.
The government repeatedly denied the allegations made by protesters. However, several officials, including two ministers, were arrested or resigned following the incident.
In his resignation announcement on Sunday, Vucic also stated that he had granted amnesty and pardons to 49 individuals who were arrested or undergoing legal proceedings related to the protests. These include 12 activists and 11 of Vucic’s own supporters.