Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced his resignation on Sunday, paving the way for him to run as prime minister in the October 25 parliamentary elections. Vucic, who has held the position since 2014, will step down to pursue a candidacy for the Serbian Progressive Party's right-wing populist slate.
Vucic, a right-wing populist leader with authoritarian tendencies, announced his early retirement in June and dissolved the country’s parliament to call for snap elections. He faced sustained pressure from anti-government demonstrators since November 2024, following the collapse of a train station roof in Novi Sad that killed 15 people and was blamed on government corruption.
The snap elections come amid a student-led movement sparked by the Novi Sad disaster, which led to widespread protests and demands for accountability. Vucic's resignation allows him to run as a candidate for prime minister, while outgoing parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as interim president until a new one is elected. The elections will test Vucic's political survival and the government's ability to address corruption and public unrest.