Will Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić resign before the elections he has announced for the period between late September and mid-November? That is the latest question intriguing the public after he himself left open such a possibility.
Analysts believe it is more a matter of tactics and strategy, and that a resignation would allow him to take full part in the election campaign as the leading figure of the list gathered around the Serbian Progressive Party and potentially become the new prime minister.
During a visit to China, Vučić said that “if I were to resign within 90 days, elections would have to be called because that is what the Constitution stipulates.” Given that he recently specified an autumn election date, the question arises as to whether this means we may soon expect his departure from office as well.
Predrag Lacmanović, programme director of the Faktor Plus agency, told Blic that there are currently several possible scenarios regarding the elections. According to him, it is possible that Serbia could first hold snap parliamentary elections followed by presidential elections, while another possibility is that the elections could be held simultaneously. He described this as a matter of tactics and strategy for the ruling coalition, adding that there would be nothing controversial either in Vučić resigning before the snap parliamentary elections or in remaining in office until the end of his term.
Lacmanović believes there are arguments in favour of both options. He said that anything is possible, but nothing is certain, and that even Vučić himself is not yet sure about resigning. In any case, he expects Vučić to head the SNS or ruling coalition electoral list, and noted that a resignation would allow him to participate more fully in the election campaign as a potential future prime minister. He added that the aim of every political party is “to come to power or remain in power”, and that resigning from the presidency ahead of parliamentary elections is simply one of the political questions being weighed up, much like decisions on coalitions or electoral alliances before every election.
On the other hand, political analyst Đorđe Vukadinović said that Vučić “continues to do what he does best”. According to Vukadinović, Vučić constantly shuffles the political cards and keeps observers uncertain about his next moves. He argued that Vučić’s statement that he does not know who will be President of Serbia in October should be viewed in that context.
Vučić’s second and final term as President of Serbia expires at the end of May next year. While discussing the possibility of resignation, he drew a parallel with the move made by Boris Tadić ahead of the combined parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012. Vučić said that he would not be shortening his term, rejecting claims that Tadić had done so in the past. Instead, he argued that Tadić had simply resigned, and that he himself would do the same if necessary because that is what the Constitution allows. He explained that once a president resigns, parliamentary elections could be held and presidential elections would then follow within 90 days, adding that there was “no great philosophy behind it”.
He also reminded the public that when the President of the Republic resigns, elections must be held within 90 days, while the Speaker of the National Assembly temporarily assumes presidential duties and powers.
Earlier this year, in February, Miloš Vučević, president of SNS, said that he expected to see Vučić become the future Prime Minister. Vučević stated that although he had not always agreed with every one of Vučić’s decisions, events had shown that Vučić knew what he was doing and demonstrated the qualities of a true statesman. He added that it was unrealistic to expect Vučić to become less involved in politics and argued that he still possessed the energy and experience necessary for high office. According to Vučević, it would be a great loss for Serbia to waste such political capital, and he insisted that Vučić did not have the luxury of withdrawing from public life.
If snap parliamentary elections are indeed held between late September and mid-November, as Vučić has announced, and if the president does not resign beforehand, questions remain over who would be nominated to form the new government in the event of a victory by the ruling coalition. It also raises the issue of whether someone might temporarily serve as prime minister until Vučić’s second presidential term officially expires.
(Blic, 27.05.2026)