Rapid political developments are triggered by the populist president’s sudden announcement that he is going to resign within the next few weeks, after months of leading the country to early presidential and parliamentary elections.
The announcement by the Serbian leader, who has been in power for 13 years, comes as the culmination of an intense and sometimes violent year and a half led by the student movement.
The tragedy that broke the glass
The climate of anger in the country escalated sharply after the collapse of the roof of the train station in the city of Novi Sad in November 2024, which claimed the lives of 16 people. Just a few days ago, students in Novi Sad commemorated the victims of the disaster, demanding the immediate calling of general elections, while a new student rally is planned for Sunday in the southeastern Serbian town of Kraljevo.
“I will only be president for a few more weeks and then I will resign,” Vucic told supporters during a pro-government rally in the capital, Belgrade. It is noted that his second and final term was normally due to end in mid-2027.
Vucic made it clear that he would help his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) win both the presidential and early parliamentary elections (which were also scheduled for 2027). However, he did not specify the exact date of his resignation, nor when he will dissolve the parliament, a step that is a condition for holding parliamentary elections.
“He is trying to forestall his inevitable fall”
The opposition sees tactics behind the move. Savo Manojlovic, head of the student opposition movement “Kreni-Promeni” (Start-Change), characteristically commented: “With his resignation and early elections, Vucic is trying to prevent his inevitable fall, which comes as a result of the demonstrations and a student movement that now enjoys more support than him.”
Protesters, opposition parties and human rights groups say the deadly disaster at the train station was the result of wider government mismanagement of public works and widespread corruption. At the same time, they accuse Vucic and his allies of violence against political opponents, ties to organized crime and silencing the freedom of the press, accusations which the government categorically denies.
The European “thorn” and Russia
The political developments are expected to directly affect the international position of the country. Serbia is officially a candidate country for joining the European Union, but Belgrade is first called upon to improve the rule of law, ensuring the conditions for free and fair elections and to crack down on corruption.
At the same time, the EU is pushing Serbia to align its foreign policy with that of the bloc, which means imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, an issue that remains highly sensitive for the country’s political scene.
