Serbia’s Vučić steps down as president, runs for prime minister

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, a leading figure in the country’s politics for more than a decade, has stepped down early after more than a year of student-led protests and growing public discontent over his government’s policies, the BBC reported.

The protests began in November 2024 after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station. Before the disaster, Vučić’s government had touted the station’s renovation as a symbol of the country’s progress. The collapse claimed 16 lives and triggered mass demonstrations involving students, teachers, workers, farmers and other groups, with protesters accusing the government of corruption.

Vučić announced his intention to resign in June 2026, paving the way for an early presidential election. Serbia is also preparing for a snap parliamentary election, in which Vučić is running with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) as he seeks the post of prime minister.

In late February, Vučić visited Kazakhstan, where he discussed the development of the IT sector, direct flights between Astana and Belgrade and the expansion of Serbian businesses in Kazakhstan.