Serbia’s Vucic Resigns As President To Run For Prime Minister In October Election

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned from office to contest the October 25 snap parliamentary election as a candidate for prime minister. His resignation follows constitutional limits preventing him from seeking a third presidential term. Vučić has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, but his government has faced sustained student-led protests following the 2024 Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people. The election will take place amid continuing political tensions and debates over Serbia’s relationship with the European Union and Russia.

VUCIC STEPS DOWN TO CONTEST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Serbia’s long-serving President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned from office as he prepares to contest the country’s October 25 snap parliamentary election as a candidate for prime minister.
Vučić announced his resignation on Sunday from the presidential palace in Belgrade, telling supporters that he was leaving the office after serving the country for nearly a decade as president and, before that, as prime minister.
“I am resigning as president,” Vučić told the gathering.
He said he would formally hand over his duties to the speaker of parliament the following morning, describing the occasion as his final evening in the presidential building.
The resignation allows Vučić to campaign for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the parliamentary election without seeking a third presidential term.

WHY VUCIC COULD NOT SEEK ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL TERM

Vučić was serving his second five-year presidential term and was constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.
His current term would otherwise have ended in May 2027.
Rather than leave frontline politics, he has chosen to seek the position of prime minister through the parliamentary election. Serbia’s prime minister heads the government, while the president serves as head of state.
Vučić has been one of the dominant figures in Serbian politics since 2012, serving first as prime minister and later as president.

SNAP ELECTION SET FOR OCTOBER 25

Serbia is due to hold an early parliamentary election on October 25 after Vučić dissolved parliament earlier this month.
He said the election was necessary because of continuing political tensions and divisions in the country.
The early vote was originally scheduled to take place later, but the government brought it forward following months of political unrest and pressure from student-led protests.
Vučić has said that the political situation had become too turbulent and that voters should determine the country's direction through an election.

PROTESTS FOLLOWED DEADLY NOVI SAD STATION COLLAPSE

The political crisis intensified after the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024.
Sixteen people were killed in the disaster, which occurred at the recently renovated station.
The tragedy triggered large student-led demonstrations across Serbia. Protesters demanded accountability for those responsible, greater transparency in government contracts and action against corruption.
The demonstrations continued for months and became one of the most significant challenges to Vučić’s government since he came to power.
Student groups have now entered the electoral contest, presenting candidates for the October parliamentary vote.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FACED CONSEQUENCES

The railway station disaster also resulted in political and legal consequences for several officials.
Several government figures resigned or faced arrest following the collapse, although Vučić and his government have rejected accusations that corruption or political interference was responsible for the tragedy.
The protesters, however, have continued to argue that the disaster exposed deeper problems involving public procurement, construction oversight and accountability.

VUCIC’S LONG DOMINANCE OF SERBIAN POLITICS

Vučić has been at the centre of Serbian politics for more than a decade.
He served as prime minister before becoming president and has remained the most prominent figure within the Serbian Progressive Party.
Supporters credit his government with pursuing infrastructure projects, economic development and political stability. His administration has also maintained a strong emphasis on Serbian national interests.
Critics, including opposition parties and protest organisers, have accused his government of weakening democratic institutions, exerting pressure on the media and failing to adequately address corruption allegations.
Vučić and his allies have rejected accusations of wrongdoing and have continued to portray their government as committed to Serbia’s development and stability.

A POLITICAL CAREER ROOTED IN SERBIA’S NATIONALIST ERA

Vučić's political career began during the turbulent period surrounding the breakup of Yugoslavia.
He was a minister under former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević during the 1990s, a period marked by wars in the former Yugoslavia and Serbia’s international isolation.
Over the years, however, Vučić moved towards a more pro-European political position while retaining strong nationalist elements in his political messaging.
His political transformation has remained an important part of the debate surrounding his long tenure in power.

BALANCING THE EU AND RUSSIA

Vučić has also pursued a foreign policy that attempts to balance Serbia’s ambition to join the European Union with its longstanding relationship with Russia.
Serbia remains an EU candidate country, but its accession process has faced difficulties, including disagreements over democratic standards and Belgrade’s continued refusal to fully align with EU sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
At the same time, Serbia has maintained political, economic and cultural ties with Moscow.
This balancing act has made Vučić an important figure in the wider geopolitical competition surrounding the Balkans.

STUDENT MOVEMENT EMERGES AS MAJOR CHALLENGER

The student-led movement that emerged after the Novi Sad tragedy has become a significant force ahead of the election.
University students have organised large demonstrations, marches and other public events, calling for stronger institutions and greater accountability.
The movement has also formally entered the electoral process, with a student-backed list expected to compete for seats in parliament.
Several opposition parties have indicated support for the student movement rather than putting forward competing candidates in some constituencies.

VUCIC’S RESIGNATION DOES NOT END HIS POLITICAL ROLE

Although Vučić is leaving the presidency, his resignation does not mean he is leaving politics.
His objective is to remain a central political figure by seeking the prime minister’s position through the October election.
If his political party succeeds in forming a government after the vote, he could return to executive office in a different capacity.
The change would therefore represent a shift from the presidency to the premiership rather than an immediate departure from national politics.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PRESIDENCY?

Following Vučić’s resignation, Serbia must begin the constitutional process for replacing the president.
The parliamentary speaker assumes the duties of the presidency on an interim basis, while an early presidential election is expected within the constitutionally prescribed period.
Vučić’s resignation therefore sets Serbia on a path towards separate parliamentary and presidential contests.

ELECTION WILL TEST SERBIA’S POLITICAL DIRECTION

The October 25 parliamentary election will take place against the backdrop of prolonged protests, political polarisation and a challenge from a student-backed movement.
For Vučić and the SNS, the election provides an opportunity to seek a fresh parliamentary mandate.
For the opposition and student movement, it represents an opportunity to challenge a political system dominated by Vučić and his allies for many years.
The result will also influence Serbia’s approach to domestic reforms, its EU membership ambitions and its relationships with Russia and other international partners.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR VUCIC AND SERBIA

Vučić’s resignation marks the end of his current presidential tenure but not the end of his political career.
After years as one of Serbia’s most influential political figures, he is now seeking a new route back into executive office through parliament.
The October 25 election will determine the composition of Serbia’s next government and whether Vučić can continue his political career as prime minister.
For Serbia, the vote comes after nearly two years of protests and political tensions triggered by the Novi Sad railway station disaster, making it a significant moment for the country’s political future.