Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned to run for prime minister in the October 25 parliamentary elections, marking the end of his second term. Vucic, who served as president since 2017, will step down ahead of the snap elections, allowing him to seek the prime minister position.
Vucic, 56, announced his resignation on Sunday, citing his plans to step down in June. He will hand over his duties to the parliament speaker, Ana Brnabic, as interim president until a new one is elected. The resignation comes amid political turmoil following a railway station collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people in November 2024.
The upcoming elections will test Vucic's political survival as his Serbian Progressive Party faces opposition from Students Win and European Serbia. The snap elections come after a major political setback triggered by the railway disaster, which led to protests demanding accountability and an end to corruption. Vucic's government has faced criticism for its handling of the incident and its alleged authoritarian tendencies.
Vucic's resignation allows him to run as a prime minister candidate, but his party's success in the elections will determine his political future. The elections will also see the contest for the presidential role, with the first round expected by December. The crisis in Serbia highlights the challenges of balancing relations with Russia, the EU, and China while addressing domestic issues like corruption and public safety.