Serbia’s Vucic confirms he won’t seek re-election in 2027

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed that he will not participate in the next presidential election, ruling out another term after his current mandate expires in 2027.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg following a visit to Beijing, Vucic said he would respect Serbia's constitutional term limits, ending speculation about a potential bid for re-election.

The 56-year-old leader, who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, stated that he would not seek another presidential term once his current mandate concludes. However, he left open the possibility of returning to frontline politics in another capacity.

Asked whether he could one day serve again as prime minister, Vucic replied that “it might happen” if his Serbian Progressive Party requires his leadership.

The announcement comes amid continuing political tensions in Serbia, where mainly student-led protests against the government have entered their second year. Demonstrators, who accuse the authorities of cronyism and authoritarian governance, have been demanding early elections following the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in November 2024 on a route being upgraded by Chinese companies.

Despite the unrest, Vucic expressed confidence in his political standing, noting that his party continues to lead public opinion polls with support exceeding 40%, well ahead of a fragmented opposition and a still loosely organized protest movement.

The Serbian president also reiterated his commitment to the country's European integration while emphasizing the need to pursue economic opportunities independently.

“We’ll do our job” when it comes to meeting European Union criteria, Vucic said. “But in the meantime, we have to take care of ourselves. We cannot wait forever.”

Vucic has increasingly positioned Serbia as a bridge between East and West, cultivating close ties with China while maintaining ambitions to join the European Union. During his recent visit to Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed him with full state honors and awarded him the Friendship Medal, China's highest honor for foreign nationals.

Under Vucic's leadership, Serbia has attracted nearly €8 billion in direct Chinese investment, with additional financing supporting infrastructure projects across the country. At the same time, he has sought closer economic cooperation with the United States, describing President Donald Trump as “a kindred spirit” who prioritizes national interests.

Vucic also voiced concern about Europe's economic trajectory, warning that excessive protectionism and declining productivity threaten the continent's competitiveness.

“Protectionism is killing, in the end, Europe,” he said, adding that Europe's biggest challenge will be addressing productivity and workforce issues. “We all live nicely. We don’t see what’s happening around us.”

While reaffirming Serbia's strategic goal of joining the EU, Vucic acknowledged growing public skepticism toward membership amid delays in the enlargement process.

“We are on the EU path, and it doesn’t matter what kind of pressure we’ll be facing about that,” he said. “We will remain on the path.”

By Vafa Guliyeva