Resignation sealed: Serbian President talks about leaving office soon

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has allowed the possibility of his resignation amid mass protests in the country. The rallies took place on May 23 and ended with clashes between the protesters and the police. In response, the guards used tear gas and stun grenades. Experts do not rule out that the head of state's statement marked the beginning of the election campaign. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

I'm tired, I'm leaving.

"I may resign soon," Alexander Vucic said. His words were a response to the protesters' calls to resign as head of state.

The Serbian leader stressed that he would not change the country's constitution in order to preserve power, so his presidential career is coming to an end. "I am not a dictator," he emphasized.

Photo: Global Look Press/Silas Stein

The Head of State explained that his term of office expires on May 31, 2027. According to Vucic, at the same time, he is not going to shorten his presidential term, as former President Boris Tadic did "with meaningless wording, because you either resign or you are president until the end of your term."

Alexander Vucic became President of Serbia on May 31, 2017, and was re-elected for a second term in April 2022. According to the Constitution, one person can be elected head of state no more than twice, and one term of office lasts for five years.

At the same time, Vucic had previously talked about the possibility of resigning if necessary. "If there was a need to preserve the state in any way and give it some time, I would not hesitate. It's not the right moment, but I wouldn't hesitate," he argued in 2023.

Mass protests continue unabated

Vucic made his statement in China, where he arrived on a state visit. On the same day, a protest rally was held in the country under the slogan "You and me, Slavia, because the students are winning."

The President noted that billions of euros have been invested in "the destruction of the Serbian state." According to him, this is the financing of the media, NGOs, trade unions, education and political organizations.

The protesters demanded from the podium to set a date for parliamentary elections in Serbia, and also presented their reform program in various fields — from justice and healthcare to education and culture.

Vucic had said a few days earlier that parliamentary elections would be held in the fall, from late September to mid-November, but he did not name the exact date of the vote. He also stressed that he always stands for dialogue and recognizes any voting results.

Mass demonstrations in the country have not stopped for about a year and a half. The speakers criticize corruption among officials and the selective application of laws. The protests broke out after the tragedy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024. Then, as a result of the collapse of the canopy at the railway station, 16 people died.

After the protests on May 23, the president called on activists to engage in dialogue, noting that "violence will not lead to political change." The head of state called the rally small and meaningless. Referring to official data, Vucic said that from 30.5 to 34.3 thousand people took to the streets.

At the same time, according to the public organization Archive of Public Meetings, over 100,000 people participated in the protest action on Belgrade's Slavia Square. There were clashes with the police. The protesters began throwing stones, bottles and pyrotechnics at the guards. The security forces responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

According to Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, 17 police officers were injured and 47 protesters were detained. Vucic condemned the actions of the demonstrators, calling them a gross violation of peace and public order. He also called for waiting for the election results, noting that the fight would be fierce, and added that the opposition was unlikely to win easily, despite "billions invested in the destruction of Serbia." "Despite this, we managed to repel these attacks," the president explained.

The election campaign has begun

RIAC program manager Milan Lazovich, in an interview with Izvestia, noted that he was not inclined to attach much importance to Vucic's statement about his imminent resignation.

— It is obvious that it was made in order to somewhat bring down the increased degree of protest tension, it can even be called somewhat populist. Whether Vucic is really ready to resign ahead of schedule is still a question, and it will depend on how the situation with the protests develops, and how the autumn elections will be held, in which the results of the ruling party are likely to be more modest than in previous periods, the expert said.

Oleg Bondarenko, the editor-in-chief of the Balkanist project, added in a conversation with Izvestia that the beginning of the election campaign in Serbia was behind Vucic's statement.

— Alexander Vucic has repeatedly said that he is resigning as president anyway. Depending on the results of his party in the parliamentary elections, this may happen sooner or later. But do not take these words in such a way that Vucic will resign tomorrow. No, of course he won't," the specialist expressed confidence.

These words rather indicate that if Vucic's party is unable to create and maintain a parliamentary coalition, then it is logical to expect his resignation, since his party may lose its majority in parliament and will no longer be ruling, the expert said. Therefore, the Serbian president's words are not about tomorrow.

— This is about the alignment that will happen after the elections to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia (unicameral parliament. — "Izvestia"), obviously, in late October and early November, — summed up the interlocutor of the editorial office.