Serbia protesters question Vucic pledge to resign
Thousands rallied in Kraljevo, saying they doubt Aleksandar Vucic would surrender power even if he resigns and calls early elections.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Thousands of protesters gathered in Kraljevo, Serbia, rejecting Aleksandar Vucic’s pledge to step down and hold early elections, Al Jazeera reported. The protest matters because demonstrators said they do not see the pledge as a clear break from the power structure built during Vucic’s 12 years in office.
According to Al Jazeera, protesters at the rally said they doubt Vucic intends to give up control. Many demonstrators said they expect him to keep political power by shifting into the prime minister’s office while a close ally takes the presidency.
Protesters doubt a real transfer of power
Al Jazeera reported that the Kraljevo crowd dismissed Vucic’s promise of resignation and early elections. The demonstrators’ concern, as reported by Al Jazeera, is that a change in title would not amount to a change in who runs the country.
The protesters said Vucic has held power for 12 years, according to Al Jazeera. That long tenure has shaped their reaction to his pledge, with many saying they do not believe he would voluntarily leave Serbia’s political center.
Al Jazeera reported that some protesters expect a scenario in which Vucic moves to the role of prime minister. Under that view, a close ally would assume the presidency while Vucic continued to exercise influence from another office.
Early elections viewed with suspicion
Vucic’s pledge included holding elections ahead of schedule, according to Al Jazeera. Protesters in Kraljevo did not treat that promise as evidence of a coming political reset, the outlet reported.
Instead, demonstrators framed the pledge as a possible reshuffling of positions among people loyal to Vucic, according to Al Jazeera. The report did not cite protesters expressing confidence that the resignation pledge would lead to a loss of power for him.
The rally in Kraljevo added to public pressure around Vucic’s political future, as described by Al Jazeera. The central demand voiced by demonstrators was not only for a formal resignation, but for an end to the control they associate with his years in office.
Al Jazeera published its report on June 28, 2026. The outlet said the protesters remained unconvinced that Vucic’s pledge, even if carried out, would bring the political change they seek.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.