Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić leaves office

In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić left his post after more than nine years.

Addressing his supporters in front of the Presidential building in the capital Belgrade, Vučić argued that they maintained peace and stability in the country during his term of office.

Vučić said he wants to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections as an “ordinary citizen”.

Vučić had previously announced that he would submit his resignation on September 27.

Early parliamentary elections have been declared in Serbia for October 25, 2026.

Vučić is expected to take an active role in the Serbian Progressive Party's election campaign and stand out for the post of prime minister if his party forms the government.

In accordance with the Serbian Constitution, Vučić, who served as president for two terms, cannot run for the same office for the third time.

PROTESTS GROWED WITH THE NOVI SAD DISASTER

One of the turning points of the social reaction against the Vučić administration was the collapse of the concrete shed at the Novi Sad train station in November 2024, killing 16 people.

After the disaster, students, teachers, workers, farmers and different social segments participated in protests against the government.

Demonstrators argued that the incident was not just an infrastructure accident but the result of a broader governance problem linked to a lack of transparency in public procurement and allegations of corruption.

Despite some resignations from the government and public institutions, the protests did not end.

As the demonstrations continued throughout the summer months, police intervention and allegations of ill-treatment further increased tension. Over time, a call for early elections was added to the demands of the protesters.

At the end of this process, Vučić dissolved the parliament and announced that early elections would be held on October 25.

BRNABİĆ WILL BE INTERIM PRESIDENT

Following Vučić's resignation, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić will temporarily assume the presidency.

According to Serbian law, the interim presidency can last a maximum of three months. The election to determine the new president must be held within three months at the latest after Vučić leaves office. Accordingly, the deadline for the presidential election is 27 December 2026.

Vučić also announced that he decided to pardon and pardon 49 people just before leaving office.

It was reported that 23 of these people were involved in incidents related to protests and political tensions in the last year and a half.

VUČİĆ IS NOT WITHDRAWING FROM POLITICS

Vučić's departure from the presidency does not mean that he will withdraw from Serbian politics.

Vučić, who became prime minister in 2014 and was elected president for the first time in 2017, has been one of the most influential figures in the country's politics for more than the last decade.

While Vučić said he supported Serbia's membership in the European Union, he also maintained close relations with Russia and encouraged the entry of Chinese investments into the country.

Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party in the early parliamentary elections on October 25; It will compete with student-led anti-corruption movements and pro-Western opposition blocs.