Serbia's populist President Vucic resigns to run for prime minister at early vote

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic resigned Sunday to pursue a bid to become prime minister in an upcoming early parliamentary election that will test his firm rule in the Balkan country, which was rattled by nearly two years of protests.

Vucic’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the Serbian Constitution from seeking a third term and said he was resigning to lead his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party in the Oct. 25 ballot.

The governing populists face a major challenge at the ballot box from a youth-backed movement that led the protests triggered by the Nov. 1, 2024, train station canopy collapse that killed 16 people in the northern city of Novi Sad.

University students demanded accountability for the tragedy. Their struggle for justice and against corruption has grown into a strong movement that will attempt to oust Vucic’s government after 14 years in power. Vucic himself has been either prime minister or president for the past 12 years.

“I am resigning the duty of the President of the Republic,” Vucic said, reading the text of his resignation.

The ballot in October will be held against a backdrop of high political tensions as Vucic’s populists seek to remain in office despite widespread popular discontent. His decision to run for prime minister is seen as a carefully planned maneuver to retain a top position, and to boost his party’s chances against the student movement.

Before signing his resignation, Vucic briefly addressed his supporters outside the presidency building in Belgrade. He said “tonight is a very special occasion for me, my last evening in this beautiful building.”

“But I look to the future with joy, new victories await us,” he told the crowd as they chanted his name. “Let’s beat them (opponents) more convincingly than ever before.”

Vucic in recent weeks has toured the country tirelessly in a live coverage on pro-government media. He has opened new roads, offered assistance money and cheaper medicines, and visited voters in their homes. More recently, Vucic was filmed driving in his brother’s car to some of the events.

The prime minister in Serbia is formally more powerful than the president. But Vucic still took a dominant role during his two five-year terms, sometimes presiding over government sessions and routinely announcing all important decisions and plans.

The Independent Bureau for Social Research, or BIRODI, has filed a complaint alleging that Vucic has abused a public institution as president to promote his party, which he has dismissed. There has been no response from the anti-corruption authorities that are under government control.

After Vucic’s resignation, the acting president will be a close ally and former prime minister, Ana Brnabic, who is the outgoing speaker of Serbia’s 250-member Parliament.

Vucic said the first round of the early presidential election must be held by the end of this year because of a 90-day deadline.

Vucic and his party have been accused of rampant corruption, organized crime links and a clampdown on democratic freedoms, including the critical media. The SNS party has gradually taken control over all state institutions since coming to power in 2012, while denying abuse of office and repeatedly pledging to fight graft.

The student-backed election list includes little-known experts, professors, teachers, athletes and other individuals from all walks of life. Groups of students have been touring the country on bicycles as part of their campaign calling for the rule of law and an end to corruption.

Analysts say the student group and Vucic are polling close, heralding a tight race and a referendum-like atmosphere. Also running are Vucic’s allies, the Socialist Party, a pro-EU opposition alliance and several smaller groups.

Vucic said that as of Monday, he will be “everywhere in Serbia to listen to the people.” While praising his government's achievements, Vucic contended that “I have made mistakes but I have worked diligently like hardly anyone in this position.”

Vucic also said he had pardoned 49 people before leaving the office, including 23 who have been prosecuted for alleged offenses during the protests. They include a group of anti-government activists who fled Serbia after being accused of anti-state activities.

Authorities have pushed hard against protesters with police violence and detentions as Vucic, without offering evidence, accused his opponents and critical media of intending to “destroy the state” under unspecified foreign influence.

He told Serbia’s state-run RTS Television earlier on Sunday that foreign powers and unidentified people in the country plan to stir unrest on election night.

Serbia’s efforts to join the European Union have stalled under Vucic because of democratic backsliding and a refusal to join sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

FILE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic walks on the red carpet before a welcoming ceremony for Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

FILE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic waves a Serbian flag during a rally of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

FILE - A supporter of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic holds his photo during a rally in Belgrade, Serbia, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

FILE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic looks on as documents are exchanged after the signing of an agreement following talks with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami running back De'Von Achane, perhaps the team's most important offensive player, limped off the field in the first quarter of the Dolphins' game against Kansas City on Sunday with a knee injury.

The Dolphins later announced that he would not return to the game, without announcing severity of the injury or any initial findings.

Ollie Gordon replaced Achane and had a career-high 14 carries by the midpoint of the third quarter, before he also had to leave the game because of what the Dolphins said was a cramping issue. Gordon was the only other running back the Dolphins had on their active roster Sunday.

Achane — who agreed to a four-year, $64 million extension earlier this year with $32 million guaranteed — is generally considered to be a huge part of the Dolphins' plans in their current rebuilding phase. He's seventh on the team's all-time rushing list despite playing only 47 games and led the NFL with an average of 5.7 yards per carry last season.

Achane was either the ballcarrier or intended receiver on four of Miami's first five plays Sunday before getting hurt. He suffered the injury on what was an 11-yard run to the left side.

Achane got up quickly after the tackle on the play where he got injured, then simply stood still while flanked by a couple of teammates. He eventually walked to the Miami sideline under his own power, albeit slowly and appearing to favor his left leg before going into the team's injury tent.

He went to the locker room a few minutes later. The Dolphins announced that he wouldn't return during the third quarter, and Achane was back on the sideline at that point.

Achane entered Sunday with 31 carries for 110 yards this season; the rest of the Dolphins, combined, had 16 carries for 66 yards.

Achane rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards on 238 carries in 2025. He had eight rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores a year ago and ranked fourth among running backs with 488 yards receiving.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)