Serbia's President Vucic Announces Resignation and Bets on New Elections

Resignation as a Strategic Move

Constitutionally, Vucic is in any case prevented from running for the presidency a third time. His second term ends regularly at the end of May 2027. Analysts therefore interpret the announced resignation primarily as a tactical move. Political scientist Radivoje Grujic told the Reuters news agency: "Das ist keineswegs das Ende von Vucic." Vucic already has a plan that does not provide for political retirement.

For about a year now, a protest movement in Serbia has been calling for early parliamentary elections. The starting point was the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, in which 16 people were killed by what were apparently improperly installed roof elements. The opposition, demonstrators, and human rights groups hold government officials responsible for mismanagement, incompetence, violence against political opponents, widespread bribery, ties to organized crime, and restrictions on press freedom.

From Canopy Collapse to Mass Movement

The spontaneous occupations of universities by students and faculty, which lasted almost a year, developed into a nationwide movement joined by citizens from across the country. According to estimates by the independent panel of experts the Archive of Public Assemblies, around 180,000 people demonstrated in central Belgrade last month against the government. In local elections, student-backed candidates had already achieved initial notable successes; according to polls, a list backed by the movement could also win the next parliamentary election.

However, no such nationwide list exists so far. Savo Manojlovic, head of a student opposition group, accused Vucic of preempting his inevitable downfall through the protests by announcing early elections. Vucic himself offered the leadership of his SNS party to "help," and proposed the name "United Serbia" for the list. In the event of an election victory, he promised an end to corruption, higher pensions, and better state healthcare.

In recent months, Vucic had repeatedly suggested that early parliamentary elections could take place later this year, without naming a specific date. The regular end of the current legislative period of parliament is scheduled for February 2028. It is expected that Vucic will run as the SNS's lead candidate in an early election and, in the event of a victory, wants to become prime minister. The office of the president in Serbia already has predominantly ceremonial powers; de facto, Vucic alone has made all important decisions since 2012, regardless of which position he held.

Field of Tension Between the EU, Russia, and China

At the rally on Saturday, Vucic accused the demonstrators of wanting to destroy the Southeastern European country and of cooperating with unspecified foreign powers. The judiciary, which is under Vucic's influence, has so far prevented those responsible from being held criminally accountable. Vucic was prime minister of Serbia from 2014 to 2017.

Outlook: When Will the Election Date Come?

Serbia is an EU accession candidate and simultaneously maintains close relations with Russia and China. The European Union demands from Belgrade, among other things, an alignment of foreign policy with EU member states, progress on the rule of law, free and fair elections, and in the fight against corruption and organized crime as accession conditions.

The mood in Belgrade remains tense. While the ruling party mobilized its supporters on Saturday, the student movement is preparing its next steps. Observers expect that the question of the specific election date will set the political agenda in the coming weeks. Vucic himself did not say exactly when he wants to lay down his presidential office.