Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia’s longtime leader, resigned from the presidency on Sunday to run for prime minister in the upcoming early parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. The move allows him to maintain his hold on power despite constitutional limits that prevent him from seeking a third presidential term. Vucic, who has served as either prime minister or president for the past 12 years, is widely regarded as the country’s dominant political figure and controls the Serbian Progressive Party, the ruling populist party rebranded for the forthcoming vote as “Aleksandar Vucic — United Serbia.”

Serbia’s constitution bars presidents from serving more than two consecutive five-year terms, but it does not restrict a return to the prime ministership, a position Vucic has held twice before. While the presidency is largely ceremonial on paper, Vucic is known to wield actual executive power regardless of his formal role. His resignation coincides with intensified challenges from opposition groups, particularly youth-led movements demanding accountability and systemic change in the wake of a tragic structural collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad in 2024, which killed 16 people.

The tragedy sparked widespread protests across Serbia, led primarily by university students who called for an end to government corruption and greater transparency. These protests have persisted for nearly two years, at times drawing hundreds of thousands of participants, and at times met with police repression and attacks on demonstrators. Notably, some student activists have been jailed, although Vucic recently promised to pardon some of them as a gesture toward reconciliation. However, he has also dismissed the protests as orchestrated “color revolutions,” alleging foreign interference intended to destabilize the country.

Vucic’s critics accuse his administration of autocratic tendencies, including control over major media outlets, repression of dissent, and manipulating electoral processes. Reports of vote rigging and pressure on public-sector workers to support his party have long shadowed Serbia’s elections. The opposition remains fragmented and has yet to mount a unified, nationwide campaign capable of challenging Vucic’s dominance, despite some polls showing rising support for the youth-backed Student List-Students Win coalition.

The railway station collapse has become emblematic of broader issues of corruption and cronyism. Investigations have revealed extensive budget overruns during renovations carried out by Chinese state-owned companies, with the final cost far exceeding initial estimates due to subcontracting and inflated expenses. Several officials faced indictment late last year, but the legal proceedings have yet to advance significantly.

Further complicating Serbia’s political landscape are Vucic’s regional policies and international posture. A former nationalist turned pragmatic leader, he remains firm in refusing to recognize Kosovo’s independence and has maintained close ties with Russia, opposing European Union sanctions against Moscow. His administration’s sympathetic treatment of figures like the late Ratko Mladic, a convicted war criminal, has drawn criticism from European officials.

Despite the turbulence and vocal dissent, recent opinion polls suggest that Vucic’s party is likely to retain a strong electoral position. His supporters credit him with combining nationalist rhetoric with economic growth and skillful diplomacy balancing relations between Russia and the European Union. The October elections will serve as a critical test of whether Serbia’s opposition can convert street protests into political power or whether Vucic will extend his grip on the country for years to come.