Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić Resigns, Plans to Run for Prime Minister

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced his resignation on September 27, bringing his second presidential term to an early end and setting the stage for his bid to become prime minister after the country’s upcoming parliamentary election.

Vučić addressed the public in Belgrade before signing his resignation letter. He is expected to hand over presidential duties to National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabić on September 28, after which she will serve as acting president.

Vučić said he wanted to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election as an “ordinary citizen.” His resignation does not mark an exit from Serbian politics. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party has selected him as the lead candidate on its parliamentary list and nominated him as its candidate for prime minister.

An Early End to His Presidential Term

Vučić was first elected president in 2017 and won a second term in 2022. Under Serbia’s Constitution, the presidential term lasts five years and a president can serve a maximum of two terms.

His current term was therefore scheduled to end in 2027. By resigning in September 2026, Vučić is ending his presidency several months early.

According to Serbian law, the president’s term ends once the resignation is formally submitted to the National Assembly. Parliamentary approval is not required for the resignation to take effect.

Snap Parliamentary Election Set for October 25

Vučić’s resignation is closely connected to Serbia’s upcoming snap parliamentary election.

On September 9, he signed a decree dissolving the National Assembly and called an early parliamentary election for October 25. Earlier in the month, the Serbian Progressive Party’s governing body selected Vučić as the lead candidate on its parliamentary list and nominated him for prime minister. He accepted the nomination.

If the Serbian Progressive Party and its political allies are able to form a government after the election, Vučić could move from the presidency to the position of prime minister.

Under Serbia’s parliamentary system, the formation of a new government follows the election of a new National Assembly. The proposed prime minister must present a government program and cabinet before the parliament votes on the government.

Ana Brnabić to Serve as Acting President

Following Vučić’s resignation, National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabić will assume the duties of president on an interim basis.

Serbian constitutional rules allow the parliamentary speaker to perform presidential duties after a resignation for a limited period. During that period, a presidential election must be called.

The Serbian government has said that a presidential election must be held within the legally prescribed period. Vučić has also said that the presidential election must take place by the end of the year.

Serbia is therefore entering a period in which parliamentary and presidential elections will take place within a relatively short period.

The Resignation Was Not Unexpected

Vučić’s resignation did not come entirely as a surprise.

He had previously indicated that he would leave the presidency in late September and participate in the parliamentary election as an ordinary citizen. The decision followed the government’s announcement of the October 25 snap parliamentary election.

Reuters reported that Vučić’s resignation came roughly seven months before the scheduled end of his presidential term.

The move therefore represents a change in political office rather than a withdrawal from politics. Vučić is seeking a new political role through the parliamentary election and has been put forward as his party’s candidate for prime minister.

Serbia Enters a New Electoral Period

Vučić has been one of the central figures in Serbian politics for more than a decade. His resignation now opens a new phase in which his political future will depend on the results of the October 25 parliamentary election and the subsequent process of forming a government.

At the same time, the presidency will enter an interim period under Brnabić before a new presidential election is held.

The coming months will therefore be closely watched as Serbia moves through parliamentary elections, a presidential election and the formation of a new government. Vučić’s resignation marks not the end of Serbia’s current political process, but the beginning of a new electoral phase.