Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic announces resignation

Serbia's long-standing president, Aleksandar Vucic, announced his resignation on Sunday in order to contest for the position of prime minister in a snap election scheduled for October. Vucic made this announcement from the presidential palace in Belgrade, where he was greeted by supporters who were chanting his name. His decision to step down came after nearly two years of student-led protests that had been demanding a fresh poll.

The protests were sparked by a tragic incident in November 2024 when a canopy collapse at Novi Sad railway station resulted in 16 deaths, allegations of corruption, and some of the largest demonstrations Serbia had seen since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Vucic, who was first elected president in 2017 and re-elected in May 2022, had initially promised a snap election but hadn't set a date. However, earlier this month, he announced the vote for October 25, citing significant turbulence in the domestic political scene. Vucic, who cut short his five-year term to campaign for the prime minister position, now leads the electoral list of his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party and will run as its candidate for prime minister.

Minutes before his resignation, Vucic used his constitutional powers to pardon dozens of individuals, including students and party loyalists, who had been accused of offenses during the protests.

Upon Vucic's resignation, parliament speaker Ana Brnabic will act as president for up to three months, at which point a presidential election must be called.