VIENNA, Sept. 29, 2026 — Austrian daily Der Standard has criticized Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s resignation, describing the move as “completely meaningless” and arguing that political power in Serbia remains concentrated around him regardless of his formal position.
Vučić resigned as president on Sept. 27, ahead of Serbia’s snap parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 25. He is expected to seek the post of prime minister after the election. The move follows his announcement that he would leave the presidency before the end of his second term.
In a commentary published on Sept. 28, Der Standard argued that Vučić’s formal position does not determine where political influence lies.
“Regardless of whether Vučić holds an office or not, and regardless of whether he is technically head of state or government, the strings ultimately lead to him,” the newspaper wrote.
The commentary suggested that Vučić could return as prime minister after the elections, noting that he previously held the position before becoming president.
‘Following Putin’s recipe’
Der Standard compared Vučić’s move with the political trajectory of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has alternated between the offices of president and prime minister.
“Vučić is simply following the ‘Putin recipe’ — the Russian dictator also alternated between the posts of prime minister and president,” the newspaper wrote.
The Austrian daily argued that the development reflects what it sees as the increasingly centralized nature of political power in Serbia and questioned the extent to which constitutional rules are being respected.
Vučić’s resignation has been widely interpreted as a move that would allow him to seek another central role in Serbian politics while avoiding the constitutional limit on presidential terms. Serbia’s early parliamentary election is scheduled for Oct. 25, with Vučić heading the electoral list of the coalition around the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Criticism of EU policy
Der Standard also directed strong criticism at the European Union, arguing that Brussels should have taken tougher measures against the Serbian authorities much earlier.
According to the commentary, the EU should have suspended accession negotiations with Serbia years ago, citing what the newspaper described as the suppression of democratic forces and the authorities’ response to domestic protests. It also pointed to the Sept. 2023 Banjska attack in northern Kosovo as another point at which, in its view, the EU should have reconsidered its approach to Belgrade.
The newspaper questioned why senior European officials continue to visit Belgrade despite concerns over Serbia’s democratic institutions and regional policies.
It also referred to French President Emmanuel Macron’s meetings with Vučić and to the controversy surrounding the funeral of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, who died while serving a life sentence after being convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Serbia heads toward October election
Serbia is now preparing for the Oct. 25 parliamentary election, following months of political tensions and protests. The student-led movement that emerged from the protests has entered the electoral contest with its own “Student List – Students Win,” while the coalition led by SNS is headed by Vučić. The Republic Electoral Commission has certified both lists.
Der Standard concluded its commentary by linking the persistence of Vučić’s political system and pressure on democratic forces in Serbia to what it described as shortcomings in the policies of other European countries.
The newspaper argued that both the continuation of Vučić’s system and the pressure on Serbia’s democratic opposition were, in its assessment, partly the result of what it called “ignorance and a lack of strategy” on the part of the rest of Europe.
