Serbia's Vucic Says He Will Resign Within Weeks, Calls Early Elections

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that he intends to step down within the next few weeks and called for early presidential and parliamentary elections during a rally of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in front of the National Assembly in Belgrade. Although his second and final presidential term was due to end in 2027, Vucic said his time in office was coming to an end. “This is probably the last time I am addressing you as President of the Republic,” he told supporters. “I will be president for only a few more weeks, and then I will resign.”

Describing his years in office, Vucic said he had devoted himself entirely to Serbia. “For 14 years I have faithfully served my country. I love Serbia more than anything else in the world. I have never cared about foreign interests. I wanted to serve no one except the citizens of Serbia,” he said, rejecting long-standing claims that he would never voluntarily leave office.

Despite announcing his resignation, Vucic made clear that he intends to remain politically active. He revealed that the Serbian Progressive Party's electoral list for the upcoming vote would be called “United Serbia” and pledged to campaign alongside party members. “Together with you, I will help win the trust of the people,” he said, expressing confidence that the movement could secure another victory. He added that he would continue supporting the party for as long as his assistance was needed and even announced plans to pardon certain individuals convicted of offenses committed through negligence or by accident.

Vucic did not specify the exact date of his resignation or when parliament would be dissolved, a necessary step before early parliamentary elections can be held. Political analysts note that while he plans to leave the presidency, this does not necessarily mark the end of his political career. If his party prevails in the elections, he could potentially return to executive office, including as a candidate for prime minister.

The announcement follows nearly 18 months of sustained anti-government protests that have become one of the biggest political challenges to Vucic's rule. The demonstrations erupted after the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024 that killed 16 people. Protesters, opposition parties, and human rights organizations argue that the tragedy exposed broader problems involving corruption, poor oversight of public projects, and government mismanagement. Student organizations, which have led the protests, continue to demand immediate early elections and political change.

The protest movement reached its peak on March 15, 2025, when hundreds of thousands of people gathered in central Belgrade. During a planned 15-minute silence honoring the Novi Sad victims, panic broke out after participants reported hearing an intense noise described by witnesses as resembling a jet engine inside a tunnel. The incident caused chaos as crowds fled in fear.

Subsequent investigations by independent international organizations concluded that there was a high probability authorities had used a sonic device against the peaceful demonstrators. Thousands later sought medical treatment for symptoms including dizziness, hearing problems, nausea, and heart irregularities. Serbian authorities initially denied deploying such equipment but later acknowledged possessing the devices after photographic evidence emerged, insisting they were intended only for voice warnings. The incident prompted intervention by the European Court of Human Rights, which prohibited Serbian authorities from using acoustic devices against protesters.

During his speech, Vucic rejected criticism from the protest movement and accused opponents of attempting to undermine the country. “A year and a half ago they tried to destroy our country, to tear Serbia apart from the outside,” he claimed. He further alleged that universities and schools had been turned into political platforms and argued that students had become “a toy in the hands of politicians.”

Serbia remains an official candidate for European Union membership, but progress in its accession process continues to depend on reforms related to the rule of law, fighting corruption, and guaranteeing fair elections. The continuing political crisis and demands for institutional reform remain central issues as the country prepares for another election cycle.