Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Saturday that he will resign within ‘weeks,’ according to Al Jazeera. Vucic’s announcement sets the stage for early presidential and parliamentary elections, potentially altering the political setting in the country. This follows months of youth-led protests that have challenged his leadership and caused significant unrest.

Vucic’s Statement at Pro-Government Rally

Vucic made the announcement at a pro-government rally in the capital, Belgrade. He told his supporters, ‘I will be president for only a couple of weeks, and then I will resign.’ Vucic also expressed confidence in the upcoming elections, stating, ‘We will win more convincingly than ever before.’ He added that he will support his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party and that this might be the last time he addresses the crowd as president.

Vucic did not specify the exact date of his resignation or when the elections will be held. The president’s second and last mandate was set to expire in mid-2027. Since his populist party took control of the Serbian government 14 years ago, Vucic has steadily consolidated his power.

Context of Student-Led Protests

The news of Vucic’s resignation comes amid months of student-led mass antigovernment protests that have caused widespread disruption. Tens of thousands of people have been rallying across Serbia since November 2024, when a rail station disaster in Novi Sad resulted in 16 deaths and sparked public anger toward the government. The protests led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in January 2025.

During these demonstrations, hundreds of people were detained, and Serbia’s police were accused of using excessive force and making arbitrary arrests by the European Union. Vucic, who has been a dominant figure in Serbian politics for over a decade, has often labeled the protesters as ‘foreign agents,’ accusing them of ‘fuelling divisions’ and attempting to overthrow the government.

Students’ Response to Vucic’s Rally

In response to Vucic’s pro-government rally, students are planning to hold their own gathering on Sunday in Kraljevo, central Serbia. They aim to promote national unity while renewing their calls for early elections. The student-led protests have been a significant challenge to Vucic’s administration, highlighting the growing discontent among the younger population in Serbia.