Serbia’s long‑time leader, Aleksandar Vučić, announced his resignation as president on Tuesday, following over a year of protests that grew out of the 2024 collapse of the Novi Sad railway station roof that claimed sixteen lives.
The move comes after Vučić, who had already vowed to step down in June, was barred by the constitution from seeking a third presidential term. He said he had preserved peace and stability during his nine‑year tenure and will now run for prime minister in the upcoming parliamentary election.
The protests, which began with students demanding accountability for the fatal roof collapse, expanded to include teachers, farmers and workers. The incident was seen as emblematic of a decade of cronyism within the ruling Progressive Party, which had overseen the station’s renovation – a project touted as a symbol of national progress.
Despite several resignations among members of Vučić’s administration, demonstrators pushed on, with some episodes marked by police violence that further inflamed public sentiment.
Under Serbia’s constitution, a presidential election must occur no later than three months after a resignation. As a result, voters will head to the polls twice this year – first for a snap parliamentary vote in late October, and subsequently for the presidential contest. Vučić has indicated he will contest the parliamentary election, leaving open the possibility of retaining a top role in Serbian politics.
In the interim, parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić, also a member of the Progressive Party, will serve as acting president until a new one is elected. Vučić also used his pardon power to release 49 individuals, including 23 students and loyalists linked to the “terrible events” of the past year and a half.
The approaching elections will pit the Progressive Party against a student‑led anti‑corruption movement called Students Win and a coalition of pro‑Western opposition forces, the European Serbia alliance. Vučić has long championed Serbia’s EU accession while courting ties with Russia and courting Chinese investment, a balancing act that may hinge on the outcomes of these pivotal contests.
