Vučić resigns as Serbia’s president to pursue prime minister’s post

Aleksandar Vučić resigned Sunday as Serbia’s president, saying he wants to be prime minister. He plans to run as the Progressive Party’s lead candidate in the October 25 snap election; a win would make him premier. Speaker Ana Brnabić will initially serve as acting president.

Experts believe Vučić hopes the move will consolidate his grip on power. His presidential term ends next year, and after two terms he is not permitted to run again. He is under significant domestic pressure from a protest movement largely organized by students.