Student-led demonstrations have continued to gain momentum, persisting even after President Aleksandar Vucic revealed his intention to resign from office in the near future. For over a year and a half, these protesters have maintained significant pressure on the president.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in central Serbia on Sunday, occurring just one day after President Vucic announced at a pro-government rally in Belgrade that he would step down within the next few weeks. During that rally, Vucic told supporters he would remain president for only a couple more weeks before submitting his resignation, though he provided no specific timeline regarding future elections.
Addressing the crowds in the main square of Kraljevo, located approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) south of the capital, Belgrade, professor and movement supporter Nemanja Karovic told the rally, “The students are winning.”
Serbia has experienced ongoing anti-government protests since the tragic collapse of a railway station canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024. That disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people, has been widely attributed to systemic government corruption and a broader failure to manage national construction projects effectively.
While President Vucic has previously characterized the protesters as “foreign agents” attempting to topple the state and refused demands for early elections, his recent announcement marked a shift. Vucic noted that he intends to assist his ruling Serbian Progressive Party during the upcoming electoral cycle. Although Serbian election law prevents him from serving a third consecutive presidential term, it is widely anticipated that Vucic will attempt to return to the executive branch as prime minister, a role he held previously between 2014 and 2017.
Despite the Serbian presidency being largely a ceremonial post under the constitution, Vucic has historically maintained substantial influence over his political party and the state apparatus.
