Belgrade – The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) met in the city of Niš on Saturday and formally put forward a plan for President Aleksandar Vucic to step down from the presidency and assume the role of prime minister after the party secures a majority in the early parliamentary election scheduled for Oct. 25.
Election timing and protest backdrop
Vucic has not yet dissolved the National Assembly, but he told party officials he will call the vote in the coming days. He added that, once the election is called, he will resign the presidency so he can officially join the campaign for the prime‑ministerial post. A separate presidential election is expected later in the year.
The proposal comes after more than a year of large‑scale demonstrations that began following the Nov. 1, 2024, collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Protesters have repeatedly demanded accountability for the tragedy, accusing the government of corruption and mismanagement of public works.
Security concerns and government response
On the day of the SNS meeting, scores of anti‑government demonstrators marched through Niš, while police cordoned off the National Theater to keep protesters from reaching the venue. The administration has faced international criticism for alleged police violence and the arbitrary detention of demonstrators. Vucic has repeatedly claimed, without presenting evidence, that university students and professors behind the protests are part of a foreign‑backed effort to “destroy the state.” He reiterated those accusations on Saturday, describing the unrest as “evil” coming from outside Serbia.
Opposition and student‑led list
The SNS will face a student‑backed electoral list that is expected to include university professors and experts, though the exact candidates have not been disclosed. In addition, both right‑wing and centre‑left opposition parties, along with several smaller groups, will contest the vote.
Earlier this week, a group of university students reported that at least 14 of them had been targeted with spyware earlier in the year, an incident described by the Serbian Share Foundation as the largest of its kind to date. Authorities have dismissed the allegations.
EU accession and foreign policy
Serbia continues to pursue European Union membership, but progress has stalled under Vucic’s leadership due to concerns about democratic backsliding, including alleged election irregularities in previous polls. Vucic has also refused to align Serbia with EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and has maintained close ties with China.
The proposed shift from president to prime minister reflects the party’s strategy to consolidate power while navigating domestic unrest and external diplomatic pressures. How voters respond in the Oct. 25 election will determine whether the SNS can retain its grip on Serbian politics or whether the protest movement can translate its street momentum into parliamentary change.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
