©picture alliance / Anadolu | Stringer
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Saturday that he will step down within a few weeks. This may bring a quicker end to the current political impasse in Serbia, where massive protests against his policies have been ongoing for a year and a half. At the same time, Vucic said the country will hold early presidential and parliamentary elections.
The announcement came during a pro-government rally in Belgrade, where thousands of supporters had gathered. Vucic said he “will remain president for a few more weeks,” but did not give an exact date for his resignation or for the dissolution of parliament, which is necessary to call early parliamentary elections. His second and final presidential term would normally end in 2027.
The timing of the decision appears to be no coincidence. Since the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people, Serbia has been the scene of ongoing anti-corruption protests led by students. Protesters and opposition groups view the disaster as a symbol of deeper-rooted problems such as mismanagement, corruption, and inadequate oversight of major infrastructure projects.
Vucic himself rejects the criticism and says the protests are being driven by foreign powers seeking to destabilize Serbia. During his speech in Belgrade, he accused demonstrators of wanting to destroy the country, while at the same time promising that his party would step up the fight against corruption and increase pensions and social spending.
Prime Minister again?
His announced departure likely does not mean that Vucic will truly disappear from Serbia’s political scene. Analysts point out that he may want to become prime minister again, a position he has held before. Since the president in Serbia formally has less power than the prime minister, he could maintain his influence through that route.
Meanwhile, Serbia is balancing its EU aspirations with close ties to Russia and China. To join the European Union, the country must, among other things, strengthen the rule of law, tackle corruption, and guarantee free elections.
©picture alliance / Anadolu | Stringer