The president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has submitted his resignation this Sunday with the aim of running as a candidate for prime minister in the early legislative elections set for next October 25. Vucic has held the head of state since 2017 and the Serbian Constitution prevents him from seeking a third consecutive term.
In his speech to announce the resignation, he emphasized the economic advances recorded during his term, such as the drop in unemployment, especially among young people, and the improvement in the public debt situation. "I am especially proud of the hundreds of factories that have opened, more than 300."
He also highlighted the construction of 686 kilometers of highways since 2012, a figure that contrasts with the 596 kilometers built in the seven decades prior.
Vucic referred to a quote from the British Winston Churchill, who lived "a situation similar to the one I am living tonight": "The time has come to make the decision. History teaches us that progress is never achieved by chance, but by making difficult decisions, prioritizing responsibility and determination to move forward over one's own conscience."
The resignation is accompanied by 49 presidential pardons, including those of 23 students and supporters of his party convicted for events linked to the "terrible events of the last year and a half."
The now former leader will be the candidate for head of government for the conservative Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in elections marked by student mobilizations and protests against corruption. The head of state now passes to the president of the Parliament, Ana Brnabic, also a member of the SNS.
The Serbian government, led by Prime Minister Duro Macut, had asked Vucic for the dissolution of the National Assembly to be able to call elections after the recent controversy generated by international criticism of the funeral in memory of the former Serb-Bosnian commander Ratko Mladic.
The SNS will face the party promoted by students, Student List, and the pro-Western coalition of the opposition, grouped under the name Platform for a European Serbia. The most recent polls place the SNS with 48% support, compared to 37% for the Student List, while the Platform would remain with 3.6% of voting intention.
Furthermore, the call for the presidential elections to choose Vucic's successor remains pending. According to the Constitution, these elections must be held within a maximum period of three months from the date of his resignation.