Serbia’s President Vucic resigns ahead of early elections

Belgrade, Serbia. President Aleksandar Vucic resigned on Sunday, ending his second and final five-year term seven months early and paving the way for a presidential election.

Elections ahead

The resignation comes amid campaigning for a snap parliamentary election on October 25. It would allow Vucic to be appointed prime minister if his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) forms the next government. In late June, he said he planned to resign and that Serbia would hold early parliamentary and presidential elections.

Under Serbia’s constitution, outgoing Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as interim president until a successor is elected. The presidential election must be completed within 90 days, with a campaign lasting between 30 and 60 days. Vucic said the first round would be held by the end of December.

The parliamentary election will pit SNS and its allies against Students Win, a student-led anti-corruption movement, and European Serbia, an alliance of pro-Western opposition parties.

Supporters gather in Belgrade

Hundreds of Vucic’s supporters cheered him outside the Presidency building in central Belgrade on Sunday. Minutes before resigning, he told the flag-waving crowd it was his last evening in the building. He said he had served Serbia faithfully and was proud of what they had achieved together.

Rights groups have accused Vucic and his allies of increasingly authoritarian rule. Anti-government protesters say police have beaten and unfairly detained them. Authorities deny the allegations.