Protests continue in Serbia following the president's resignation announcement

Protests in Serbia continued after President Aleksandar Vucic said he plans to resign within weeks, keeping pressure on the government for early presidential and parliamentary elections.

Student-led anti-corruption protests have been ongoing for more than a year, sparked in part by public anger over the November 2024 collapse of an awning at a railway station in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. Protesters and rights groups have pointed to what they describe as broader failures in public works management and corruption.

Following Vucic’s announcement, demonstrators gathered in multiple locations, including a rally in Kraljevo where speakers said the movement would continue despite the president’s hint of stepping down. Other protests were also planned, reflecting the demonstrators’ demand for a clear electoral timeline rather than a resignation statement without dates.

Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, said he would resign and that elections would be held early, but he did not specify the exact timing for leaving office or dissolving parliament. Analysts have said he is likely to seek to preserve political influence by placing an ally or ensuring continued control through allies if the ruling party wins the upcoming contests.

Separately, Vucic has frequently accused protest leaders of being “foreign agents,” a charge protesters and opposition groups reject. The unrest also intersects with debate over Serbia’s relationship with Kosovo, where protesters and supporters have argued that communities in both Serbia and Kosovo face political pressure and limited protections.

With temperatures reported as dangerously high during some rallies, organisers provided water and medical aid points while thousands gathered and continued demonstrations.