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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced that he will not seek another term as president when his current mandate expires in 2027, but he has indicated he may remain in politics, possibly as prime minister. The statement, made in an interview with Bloomberg, was reported by the Russian state news agency TASS on June 2.

Coverage Comparison

All three reports from TASS — dated June 1, June 2, and June 10 — cover the same central development: Vucic's intention to leave the presidency. However, the emphasis varies across the articles.

The June 2 report, based on Vucic's interview with Bloomberg, focuses on his direct statement that he has "no plans to run for another term" and that returning as prime minister "might happen." The June 10 article, citing an interview with Radio Belgrade, quotes Vucic as saying he "plan[s] to step down" and has "started packing up my books at the presidential residence." A third article, published June 1, relays comments from Aleksandar Vulin, former deputy prime minister and current chairman of the supervisory board at state gas company Srbijagas, who told TASS that Vucic will not run again but will remain active in Serbian politics.

While the June 10 report includes Vucic's speculation that he might resign "even sooner" than in three or four months, none of the articles provide an official timeline or confirmation from the president's office.

Key Claims

  • Vucic will not seek another presidential term. According to the June 2 TASS report, Vucic said he has no plans to run again after his current term expires in 2027. This is consistent with Vulin's statement and Vucic's own comments in the June 10 interview.
  • He may return as prime minister. When asked by Bloomberg whether he would like to return as prime minister, Vucic said "it might happen" because his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) might need his leadership, as reported in the June 2 article. In the June 10 report, he said he thinks "every day" about running for the office of prime minister.
  • Constitutional term limits are a factor. Vulin explained to TASS that under the Serbian constitution, the president can serve only two terms, and Vucic "never violates the constitution." Vucic was first elected president in 2017 and re-elected in 2022, making 2027 his second term's end.
  • Parliamentary elections are set for later this year. Both the June 2 and June 10 reports note that Vucic announced on May 21 that parliamentary elections would be held in the fall, with the June 2 article specifying a window of late September to mid-November, and the June 10 article narrowing it to late September to mid-October.
  • Allies expect Vucic to remain politically active. Vulin told TASS that Vucic "will remain a part of Serbia's new political life" and that his "role is far from over," though he will no longer serve as president. Parliamentary Speaker Ana Brnabic said the ruling SNS would offer Vucic its candidacy for prime minister in the upcoming elections, according to the June 2 report.

Perspectives

Vucic's stance: The president frames his decision as compliance with constitutional limits and a desire to avoid surprises. His comments about possibly becoming prime minister suggest he views the role as a way to continue exercising influence.

Allies' view: Both Vulin and Brnabic portray Vucic's potential return as prime minister as a natural continuation of his leadership, emphasizing his importance to the party and the country.

Observers' perspective: The announcement has generated speculation about Serbia's political future, though the reports do not include independent analysis. The timing of parliamentary elections this fall will be closely watched as a test of Vucic's continued political dominance.

Note: All information in this article is based on reports from TASS, which cited interviews with Bloomberg and Radio Belgrade. No other media coverage was available for comparison.