Key facts
- President Aleksandar Vučić announced he will resign within weeks.
- Early presidential and parliamentary elections will be called.
- Vučić is expected to run for prime minister after his current term.
- Student-led protests against alleged state corruption have been ongoing.
- The EU is considering cutting development funds due to concerns over judicial independence and media freedom.
President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia's dominant political figure since 2012, has announced his intention to resign from the presidency within weeks, a move expected to trigger early presidential and parliamentary elections. This decision comes amid persistent student-led demonstrations that have highlighted alleged systemic state corruption, particularly following a tragic railway station canopy collapse. Experts suggest Vučić's resignation is a strategic maneuver, as he is constitutionally barred from seeking another presidential term in 2027. He is widely anticipated to run for prime minister, leveraging snap elections to consolidate his power. Local polls indicate his party holds a significant lead with 47% support, compared to the student movement's nearly 31%. Vučić has characterized the student activists as foreign agents aiming to destabilize Serbia. Concurrently, he aims to advance EU membership aspirations while maintaining ties with Russia and China. However, this geopolitical balancing act faces increasing pressure. The European Union, Serbia's largest financial backer, is considering slashing up to 1.5 billion euros in development funds due to concerns over Serbia's judicial independence, police actions against protesters, and interference in independent media. The EU has provided substantial financial support to Serbia, exceeding 7 billion euros in funding and investments since 2000, with over half a billion in non-repayable grants between 2021 and 2024.