Vučić to Step Down as Serbian President, Announces Bid for Prime Minister
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is set to resign from office on Sunday, September 27, and immediately enter the campaign for early parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. Vučić has already announced his intention to run for the position of prime minister.
His departure from the presidency does not mark an exit from Serbian politics—on the contrary, the country faces another major political shift.
Vučić aims to lead government after presidency
On September 14, Vučić declared he would step down on September 27, entering the campaign as an ordinary citizen.
The parliament has been dissolved, and early elections will take place on October 25. Vučić has publicly stated his goal to seek the role of prime minister after the vote.
Aktualizovane.sk previously reported that the Serbian government requested Vučić dissolve parliament and call snap elections.
However, whether he will assume the premiership ultimately depends on the election outcome. Simply announcing his candidacy does not guarantee that he will become prime minister.
Phone call with Putin ahead of resignation
The day before his planned resignation, Vučić spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One of the main topics was natural gas. The current annex to the Serbia-Russia gas contract is set to expire on September 30.
After the conversation, Vučić said he expects the contract to be extended, with the price remaining at approximately 318 euros per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. At the time of his statement, however, no new long-term agreement had been formally signed.
Relations with Russia and energy supply remain significant for Serbia. Aktualizovane.sk has also covered developments in Russian gas, including Vladimir Putin’s hint at potentially resuming shipments to Europe.
Elections set after wave of mass protests
The early election follows a prolonged period of anti-government demonstrations, which intensified after the tragic collapse of part of the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024.
The disaster claimed 16 lives and sparked widespread protests, where demonstrators demanded greater accountability from state institutions and action against corruption.
Vučić and representatives of his political camp have rejected various accusations made by the opposition and protesters. Voters in October’s parliamentary elections will ultimately decide the future political direction of Serbia.
Vučić has stated that after his resignation, he plans an intensive campaign across the country. His shift from president to contender for prime minister marks the beginning of a new chapter in Serbian politics.
READ ALSO
Serbian protesters blocked roads in protest against lithium mining
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.