Serbian President Vucic Announces Resignation

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that he will step down from office within a few weeks and that early presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in the country. After 13 years in power, he has been facing pressure from anti-government protests led by students that have lasted for over a year and a half.

The demonstrations erupted after a shelter at the Novi Sad train station collapsed in November 2024, killing 16 people. Protesters, the opposition and human rights organizations claim that the tragedy exposed systemic failures in the management of public construction projects and widespread corruption.

They also accuse Vucic and his allies of election manipulation, violence against political opponents, restrictions on media freedom and ties to organized crime. The president denies these allegations.

Vucic stated that he will assist his Serbian Progressive Party in the election campaign. He has not yet announced a date for his resignation or the dissolution of parliament.

The leader of the opposition movement, Savo Manojlovic, declared that by resigning, the president is trying to prevent his "inevitable fall", since, according to him, the student movement enjoys greater support than Vucic himself.

Serbia is a candidate country for accession to the European Union.

(Reuters, Lud)