Serbian President Vučić resigns to run for prime minister amid protests

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that he will step down from the presidency within weeks and will seek the office of prime minister in the forthcoming early parliamentary elections. He presented the resignation as a move to restore public trust, stating, "I will be president only for a few weeks and then I will resign…" Critics allege that the strategy mirrors a "Putin‑style" return to power, allowing him to retain control through the more influential premiership.

Vučić has ruled Serbia for 13 years, first as prime minister from 2008 and then as president since 2017. His announcement came after more than 20 months of massive anti‑government protests sparked by the collapse of a Novi Sad railway canopy that killed 16 people and by accusations of corruption and authoritarianism. Police estimates put the turnout at 207,000 at a rally in Belgrade, while independent monitors counted about 32,500. Opposition leaders and demonstrators argue the resignation is a tactic to consolidate power rather than a genuine concession.

The development is set to shape Serbia’s political landscape ahead of elections expected within the next few months.