Serbian president announces plans to resign before completing term
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić (photo: Getty Images)
The Serbian leader has announced that he will step down within the coming weeks and that the country will hold early elections, Reuters reports.
Details of statement made by Vučić
The Serbian leader announced his decision on June 27, while addressing supporters at a pro-government rally in Belgrade.
"I will be president for only a couple of weeks, and then I will resign," Vučić said.
He also announced early presidential and parliamentary elections in the country.
The reasons behind the decision have not yet been specified.
Vučić's previous statements, protests in Serbia
Aleksandar Vučić had previously hinted several times at the possibility of stepping down early. At the end of May 2026, during his visit to China, he publicly suggested for the first time that he might soon resign as his term approached its end.
At that time, large opposition protests were underway in Belgrade, although the Serbian leader described them as "empty and lacking clear content."
Later, in the first half of June, the head of state clarified his political plans. In an interview with Radio Belgrade, the current president said he intended to resign in order to pursue the post of prime minister and was considering putting forward his candidacy to lead the government.
He also stressed that this decision could be implemented much sooner than the public expected.
At the same time, domestic tensions in the country continued. Recently, another wave of street protests broke out in Novi Sad, demanding Vučić's resignation.
Demonstrators took to the streets after a canopy collapse at a railway station that killed 16 people and accused the ruling Serbian Progressive Party of systemic corruption and ineffective governance.
