BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned from office as he prepares to contest a snap parliamentary election scheduled for October 25, following months of student-led protests and growing political unrest.
Vucic formally submitted his resignation on Sunday, September 27, bringing an end to his second and final five-year presidential term. He has dominated Serbian politics as either president or prime minister since 2014.
Although he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third presidential term, Vucic plans to remain politically influential by contesting the parliamentary election on the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) ticket and seeking the position of prime minister.
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, a close ally of Vucic, will serve as acting president until a new presidential election is held.
Before leaving office, Vucic said he pardoned 49 people, including 23 individuals convicted in connection with the ongoing protests.
Student-Led Protests
The political crisis was triggered by the November 2024 collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.
The tragedy sparked some of Serbia's largest demonstrations in decades, with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in protests led largely by university students.
Protesters have accused the government of corruption, lack of transparency and political interference in state institutions. Vucic and his allies have rejected allegations that they are responsible for the problems raised by demonstrators.
The student movement will participate in the October 25 parliamentary election under the banner "Students Win", with support from several opposition parties.
Its 250-candidate list reportedly includes university professors and professionals from various fields. The movement is campaigning for investigations into allegedly illicitly acquired property, stronger anti-corruption measures, reduced political interference in public institutions and greater transparency in the management of public funds.
Some opinion polls have indicated that the student-backed movement could pose a significant challenge to Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party, although questions have been raised about the methodology and reliability of some of the surveys.
Election Under Close Regional Watch
The upcoming election is attracting attention across the Western Balkans because of Serbia's political and economic influence in neighbouring countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo.
Analysts say developments in Belgrade could have consequences beyond Serbia, particularly for regional political tensions and relations with neighbouring states.
Vucic has also said that if the opposition wins the election, he would recognise the result and congratulate his opponents on the same evening.
Economic Pressure
Serbia, with a population of about six million, has one of the largest economies in the Western Balkans.
Vucic has promoted the country as an emerging economic success story, highlighting investment from China, energy cooperation with Russia and increasing cooperation with Israel.
However, average wages remain lower than those in neighbouring European Union countries. Official figures showed that Serbia's average net monthly salary stood at about €1,032 in April, compared with €1,555 in neighbouring Croatia.
The difference in living standards remains one of the issues shaping public debate ahead of the election.
Serbia's Wartime Legacy
The political crisis is also unfolding against the backdrop of Serbia's unresolved legacy from the wars of the 1990s.
In September, Ratko Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army who was convicted of genocide and war crimes by an international tribunal, was buried in Belgrade.
His funeral, attended by several Serbian government ministers and featuring military honours, drew criticism from European officials.
The October 25 election is therefore expected to be closely watched for what it could indicate about Serbia's domestic political direction and its future relations with other countries in the Western Balkans.
Tags
World News