Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced his resignation on Saturday, which may trigger early elections. Despite this, many analysts expect Vucic to return to his conservative and populist Serbian Progressive Party and run as prime minister.

Vucic’s Legacy

Vucic has overseen a period of economic development in Serbia, with the country’s economy expanding markedly since 2012. Unemployment has fallen from about 26% to around 8–9%, while nominal GDP has nearly tripled to around €90 billion ($102 billion). Annual foreign direct investment inflows have risen from roughly €800 million in 2012 to a record €5.2 billion in 2024.

However, critics point to a lack of transparency in public procurement and allegations of corruption and authoritarianism. Rights groups have spoken of a creeping authoritarianism under Vucic’s rule, especially amid the recent protests in which protestors say they have been beaten and unfairly detained.

Protests Continue

Protests against the government have been ongoing for 18 months, triggered by the collapse of a train station awning in November 2024 that killed 16 people. The demonstrations have been the biggest since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Despite Vucic’s announcement that he will step down, many protestors do not expect wholesale changes while he remains near the levers of power. Thousands gathered on Sunday, even after he said he would resign.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.