Serbian populist leader Vucic launches campaign for prime minister

Aleksandar Vucic is attempting to maintain his grip on Serbian politics by pivoting from the presidency to the prime minister's office. After ruling as president since 2014, constitutional limits prevented him from seeking a third term, prompting his resignation in late September. Now his Serbian Progressive Party is competing in a snap parliamentary election scheduled for late October, with Vucic positioned to become prime minister if the party secures a majority—a maneuver that would allow him to continue wielding executive power despite stepping down from the presidency. The election has become a referendum on Vucic's nearly decade-long dominance and his government's handling of public safety and corruption. A youth-led opposition movement, galvanized by anger over a 2024 train station collapse, has evolved into an electoral force opposing his rule. Vucic faces the tightest political challenge in years, with polls suggesting a competitive race as his popularity has eroded after sustained antigovernment protests over the past two years.