BELGRADE — Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić resigned on Sept. 27, ending his nine-year tenure marked by persistent allegations of government corruption. His decision follows over a year of student-led protests and growing public discontent across the country.
Vučić addressed supporters outside the presidential building, saying his administration had preserved peace and stability. He had previously announced his intent to resign in June.
The resignation triggers early presidential elections within three months, as mandated by Serbia's constitution. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for late October, meaning Serbian citizens will vote twice before year-end.
Vučić confirmed that the presidential election will occur over a month after the parliamentary vote. The parliamentary election itself was called in direct response to the protests, which demanded new elections.
Parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić, a member of Vučić's Progressive Party, will serve as interim president until a new president is elected.
Vučić, a pro-Russian populist, cannot run for a third presidential term under Serbia's constitution. He has stated his intention to run as his Progressive Party's candidate for prime minister in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Vučić's administration faced widespread anger over allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Public outcry intensified after the Novi Sad railway station's roof collapsed in 2024, killing 16 people. Vučić had closely associated himself with the station's renovation, which was intended to symbolize Serbia's progress.
Demonstrators—including students, teachers, workers, and farmers—viewed the disaster as emblematic of more than a decade of governance by Vučić's Progressive Party. A series of official resignations failed to calm protesters, who continued demonstrations throughout the summer. Gatherings escalated into unrest following accusations of police brutality.
Before his resignation, Vučić used his constitutional powers to pardon 49 individuals, including 23 students and party loyalists suspected of offenses related to what he described as "the terrible events we have gone through over the past year and a half," according to Serbian public broadcaster RTS.
Vučić has been a central figure in Serbian politics for more than a decade, serving as prime minister starting in 2014 before his first presidential election in 2017. He has publicly advocated for Serbia's accession to the European Union while maintaining close ties with Russia and attracting Chinese investment.
The upcoming parliamentary elections will feature Vučić's Progressive Party competing against two main opposition groups: Students Win, a student-led anti-corruption movement, and European Serbia, a coalition of pro-Western parties.
