Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told a rally of his supporters outside the parliament building in Belgrade that he plans to step down as head of state in the coming weeks.
According to the politician, these are his “last weeks as president.” He did not specify the exact date of his departure. In the same speech, Vucic also said that early elections would be held in the country, but did not say when the vote would take place.
His second presidential term was due to end only in 2027. Serbia’s constitution, however, does not allow one person to hold the presidency for more than two terms.
What may happen next
Vucic’s remarks suggested that leaving the presidency would not mean the end of his political career. According to the BBC Serbian Service, he said he intended to help the ruling Serbian Progressive Party “win a convincing victory” in the elections.
Reuters reports that an early resignation could open the way for his return to the post of prime minister. Vucic had previously acknowledged that possibility.
Against the backdrop of months-long protests
The statement came after prolonged protests across the country. The trigger was the disaster on November 1, 2024, in Novi Sad, where a concrete canopy collapsed at the railway station building. The accident killed 16 people.
Many people in Serbia linked the tragedy to corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects. After that, mass student-led and anti-corruption demonstrations began across the country. Protesters demanded early elections and accused the authorities of corruption, pressure on the opposition, and control over the media. Reuters says this is the biggest wave of protests in Serbia since the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.