Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said on June 27 he would resign within weeks and call early presidential and parliamentary elections, after 19 months of anti-government protests that have posed the biggest challenge of his 13 years in power.

Speaking at a pro-government rally in Belgrade, Vucic said it would "probably be the last time" he addressed such a large gathering as president.

"I will be president for only a couple of weeks, and then I will resign," Vucic told supporters. "Then we will enter the campaign with a new electoral list, 'United Serbia'."

Vucic did not say exactly when he would step down or when the elections would be held. His second and final presidential term was due to expire in mid-2027.

Although he did not explicitly state what office he would seek, Vucic said he would lead his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) into the election campaign under the newly branded "United Serbia" banner, signalling he is likely to run for prime minister.

The announcement comes after 19 months of regular student-led protests triggered by the collapse of a concrete awning at the railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024 that killed 16 people. Protesters, opposition parties and rights groups say the disaster was indicative of widespread corruption, poor oversight of state construction projects and government mismanagement.

The SNS remains Serbia's largest political party, but recent opinion polls suggest its popularity is waning and that it could lose its outright majority if elections are held later this year, potentially forcing it to govern in coalition.

Vucic has dominated Serbian politics since becoming prime minister in 2014 and has served as president since 2017. Although Serbia's presidency is largely ceremonial, he has become the country's most powerful political figure.