Serbia's President Vucic says he will run for prime minister

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist who has been president or prime minister for 12 years, said he would run for prime minister in an October 25 election, and thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Belgrade on Monday.



Vucic has faced nearly two years of student-led anti-corruption demonstrations triggered by a railway station roof collapse that killed 16 people in the city of Novi Sad in November 2024.



On Monday evening, thousands gathered in central Belgrade to support parliamentary candidates for the "Students Win" movement, the main opposition.



The candidates submitted certified signatures of their supporters, the initial step to get on the ballot.



Vucic, who said in June he would resign but did not give a date, called the snap election for October 25.



Some opposition parties including the Democratic Party and Kreni Promeni Movement have pledged their support to the student movement and will not field candidates.