Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic resigned Sunday ahead of the upcoming October 25 parliamentary elections.
Vucic, who has been Serbia’s prime minister or president since 2014, had announced that he would resign the presidency so he can formally pursue a bid to become prime minister if his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party wins the October vote.
Vucic’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the Serbian Constitution from seeking a third term
Hundreds of Vucic’s supporters cheered him in front of the Presidency building in Belgrade’s city centre.
“This is the last evening for me in this building,” he told the flag-waving crowd minutes before resigning.
“I have faithfully served you and my fatherland, Serbia … I am proud of what we have done together,” he said.
Under Serbia’s constitution, outgoing parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as interim president until a new one is elected. The presidential election must be completed within 90 days, with the campaign lasting between 30 and 60 days.
“By the end of December … we will have the first round of presidential elections,” Vucic said.
The snap parliamentary election next month pits Vucic’s SNS and its allies against Students Win, a student-led anti-corruption movement, and European Serbia, an alliance of pro-Western opposition parties.
Students Win, European Serbia and other parties still have to nominate their presidential candidates.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and Reuters)
