Serbia heads for snap October elections as Vucic seeks prime minister role after quitting presidency

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

Serbia is set for snap parliamentary elections on October 25, with Aleksandar Vucic expected to lead his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party's bid after resigning the presidency to seek the prime minister's role instead. Barred by the constitution from seeking a third presidential term, the 56-year-old is manoeuvring toward a position that carries more formal power in Serbia's system. Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as interim president while presidential elections are organised, with a first round expected by December. Vucic told flag-waving supporters outside the Belgrade presidency building: 'The fight is only beginning.'

A student-led movement demanding accountability for the November 2024 Novi Sad station canopy collapse — which killed 16 — has grown into the biggest challenge to Vucic's SNS party in its 14 years in power.

Vucic, once an ultra-nationalist ally of war-crimes-era strongman Slobodan Milosevic, rebranded as a pro-European conservative in 2008 and has dominated Serbian politics ever since.

Rights groups accuse Vucic of increasingly authoritarian rule, with protesters alleging police beatings and unfair detention — charges his government denies.