SERBIAN PRESIDENT VUČIĆ RESIGNS AFTER YEARS OF PROTESTS, PARDONS 49 PEOPLE BEFORE QUITTING
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned, ending his second presidential term amid nearly two years of student-led protests over corruption, government accountability and the 2024 Novi Sad railway station disaster that killed 16 people.
Vučić submitted his resignation on Sunday, September 27, but his exit does not necessarily mean he is leaving Serbian politics. He plans to lead his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) into the October 25 snap parliamentary election, where he is seeking to position himself for the post of prime minister. Serbia’s constitution prevents him from seeking a third presidential term.
In one of his final acts as president, Vučić pardoned 49 people, including 23 people connected to incidents surrounding the long-running protests. AFP reported that those pardoned included students and people linked to his political camp.
The protests began after the deadly Novi Sad station canopy collapse in November 2024 and grew into one of Serbia’s largest protest movements in decades. Students have demanded greater transparency, accountability and action against corruption. The government has rejected accusations that it was responsible for the alleged wrongdoing.
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, a close Vučić ally, is taking over as acting president while Serbia prepares for a presidential election that must be held within the constitutional timeframe.
So, Vučić has left the presidency — but he is not leaving the political battlefield. The next major test comes on October 25.