Serbian President Vučić says he will resign in weeks, calls early elections amid anti-corruption protests

Resignation announced at Belgrade rally

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić told a pro-government rally in Belgrade on Saturday that his days in office are numbered. "These are my last days and my last weeks as president of the Republic," he said. Vučić, who has led the country for over a decade as prime minister and president, promised to help his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) win the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, for which he proposed the list be called "United Serbia". He did not specify a precise resignation date or when he would dissolve parliament, a legal step required to trigger the early vote.

Protest backdrop

The announcement follows 18 months of student-led anti-corruption protests that erupted after a canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024 killed 16 people. Demonstrators have since accused the government of corruption, mismanagement of construction projects, and violence against political opponents. Earlier this week, students held a commemoration for the victims in Novi Sad, and another rally is planned for Sunday in Kraljevo. The protests are widely seen as the most sustained challenge to Vučić's rule.

Legacy and economic pledges

In his speech, Vučić pointed to a record of 651 kilometres of motorways built in 12 years, a fall in unemployment from a 25.9% peak in 2012, and increased foreign investment. He laid out a vision of rising living standards, with targets of an average monthly salary of 1,400 euros and a pension of 650 euros within two years. Vučić, who served as deputy prime minister, prime minister and then president, said he had always acted in the national interest.

Opposition sees a forced hand

Opposition figures dismissed the resignation as a tactical retreat. Savo Manojlovic, leader of the Move-Change movement, said Vučić was trying to pre-empt his own downfall.

Through resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections, Vučić is trying to anticipate his inevitable downfall, caused by protests and the student movement, which has more support than him.

Opposition parties and student activists have called for a direct electoral contest with Vučić's SNS and said they are ready for the early vote.

International stakes

Serbia remains an official candidate for European Union membership. Brussels has long pressed Belgrade to improve the rule of law, tackle corruption, and align its foreign policy with the bloc, including imposing sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. Vučić has maintained close ties with Moscow while pursuing closer relations with the West. How the next government handles these issues will shape the country's EU accession path.