Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned, ending his second term about seven months early and triggering an accelerated presidential election. The decision arrives during campaigning for Serbia's snap parliamentary election on October 25 and could allow Vučić to return to executive power as prime minister if his Serbian Progressive Party and allies form the next government.
The resignation does not mean Serbia is without a head of state. Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić becomes interim president under the constitution until voters elect a successor.
What happens next
- Interim president: Ana Brnabić
- Presidential election deadline: must be completed within 90 days
- Expected first round: by the end of December 2026
- Parliamentary election: October 25, 2026
- Vučić's previous term end: about seven months away
The presidential campaign must run for between 30 and 60 days. Opposition groups had not announced all their presidential candidates when the resignation was made.
Why did Vučić resign now?
Vučić had signalled in June that he planned to step down and that Serbia would hold early parliamentary and presidential elections. Timing the resignation before the October parliamentary vote reshapes the political calendar and leaves open a path for him to become prime minister.
Serbia's presidency is formally less powerful than the premiership, although Vučić has remained the country's dominant political figure throughout his time as president. If the Serbian Progressive Party forms the next government, the new president could appoint him prime minister.
That outcome is possible, not automatic. It depends on the parliamentary result, coalition arithmetic and the constitutional appointment process.
Who is running in the parliamentary election?
Vučić's SNS and allied parties face Students Win, a student-led anti-corruption movement, and European Serbia, an alliance of pro-Western opposition parties. The vote will test whether the ruling bloc can retain control after prolonged protests.
Rights groups and opposition activists have accused the government and its allies of increasingly authoritarian practices and mistreatment of demonstrators. Serbian authorities deny those allegations.
How the Novi Sad tragedy changed Serbian politics
The political crisis intensified after a concrete awning at the renovated Novi Sad railway station collapsed in November 2024, killing 16 people. The disaster triggered nationwide student and opposition demonstrations demanding accountability, transparent public procurement and early elections.
Several officials were arrested or resigned, although the government disputed broader accusations made by protesters. Before leaving office, Vučić said he had granted amnesty or pardons to 49 people connected with the protests, including activists and some of his supporters.
Vučić's political career
Vučić, 56, has held Serbia's top political offices for more than a decade. He served as deputy prime minister from 2012 to 2014, prime minister from 2014 to 2017 and president from 2017 until this resignation.
His foreign policy has balanced close economic and political relationships with China and Russia against Serbia's long-term stated goal of joining the European Union. Serbia has also sought stronger relations with the United States and Israel.
The key questions now are whether SNS wins a governing majority, whether Vučić is proposed as prime minister and who advances in the presidential election.
The timeline and constitutional details were verified against the Reuters report. The thumbnail is a real official Presidency of Serbia photograph of Vučić at a podium. It is an identified file photo, not claimed to show his September 27 resignation speech.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Serbia's interim president?
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić serves as interim president until a new president is elected.
When is Serbia's presidential election?
The election must be completed within 90 days, with the first round expected by the end of December 2026.
Can Aleksandar Vučić become prime minister?
Yes, it is constitutionally possible if SNS forms the new government and the appointment process selects him, but it is not guaranteed.
When is Serbia's parliamentary election?
The snap parliamentary election is scheduled for October 25, 2026.
