Aleksandar Vučić resigns as Serbian president after intense protests

The shake-up

Real talk: the vibes in Belgrade have been off for a while. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić finally stepped down this weekend, calling an end to his nine-year run at the top. This comes after more than a year of relentless, student-led protests fueled by allegations of government corruption and general mismanagement.

How we got here

If you're wondering why things reached a breaking point, the plot thickens back in 2024. The catalyst was a devastating tragedy: the roof of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, leaving 16 people dead. The station had been a key project in Vučić’s push for infrastructure, and for many citizens, the disaster felt like the ultimate symbol of his party’s corner-cutting and negligence.

From there, the momentum didn't stop. Students, teachers, and workers hit the streets, and when the government tried to quiet things down with a few minor resignations, it didn't really land. The situation got highkey volatile this summer after reports of police brutality against demonstrators.

What's next?

Vučić isn't exactly vanishing from the scene. Under the constitution, he couldn't run for a third presidential term, but he’s already pivoting to lead his party in the upcoming parliamentary elections in late October. He’s lowkey trying to pull a power move to stay at the top of the food chain as prime minister.

For now, Parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić is stepping in as interim president. With snap parliamentary elections in October and a fresh presidential vote expected shortly after, Serbians are heading to the polls twice in just a few months. The race will see Vučić’s Progressive Party go head-to-head against the student-led 'Students Win' movement and the pro-Western 'European Serbia' coalition. Before clearing out, Vučić used his final powers to pardon 49 people involved in the recent unrest, saying he wanted to move past the 'terrible events' of the last 18 months.

Why it matters

Vučić has been the main character of Serbian politics for over a decade, balancing a desire to join the EU with close ties to Russia and China. This resignation is a massive W for the protest movement, but with Vučić aiming for the prime minister’s office, it’s unclear if this is a genuine shift or just a strategic shuffle.