Vucic steps down as Serbian president to seek prime minister role
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic resigned on Sunday so he can run as his Serbian Progressive Party’s candidate for prime minister in October 25 parliamentary elections. He has held Serbia’s top offices since 2014 and could not seek a third presidential term under the constitution. The snap vote follows a student-led movement demanding elections after a deadly 2024 railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad.
Aleksandar Vucic left Serbia’s presidency on Sunday, positioning himself to lead the Serbian Progressive Party’s government bid in the 25 October parliamentary vote. Having served as premier or president since 2014, he faced a constitutional limit preventing a third presidential term; his second was due to end next May.
The early election answered a central demand from a student-led movement that emerged after a railway station canopy fell in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16. Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic becomes interim president, and a new presidential election must conclude within 90 days. Before resigning, Vucic pardoned 49 people, including 23 tied to protest-related events.
Vucic’s shift to a prime ministerial bid could keep him central to Serbian politics while testing whether the snap vote eases or deepens public distrust. Voters, especially those mobilized by the student-led movement, may see the election as a chance to demand accountability, while his supporters may rally around continuity. The interim presidency and upcoming presidential contest could create uncertainty, affecting how quickly institutions and parties focus on governance rather than campaign positioning.