Speaking outside the National Assembly at a massive pro-government rally themed "Serbia, One Family," Vučić delivered what he called his final speech before a major crowd as head of state.

The rally, held on Vidovdan, a highly significant national and religious holiday, is widely viewed as the launch of an early election campaign and a direct response to a powerful, 19-month-old anti-government protest movement.

The announcement follows sustained political pressure from student-led demonstrations that have gripped the country since November 2024. The massive public outcry was originally triggered by a tragic infrastructure failure: the collapse of a newly renovated concrete canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.

Protesters, university student groups, and opposition factions blame the disaster on rampant government corruption, systemic negligence, and lack of oversight in state construction projects.

The protest movement, which recently held a demonstration drawing an estimated 180,000 people to central Belgrade, has spent months demanding early elections. Recent polling indicates a candidate list backed by the student movement is surging, securing nearly 31% of voter support against the ruling party’s 47%.

During the rally, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) even featured an exhibition titled "Blockaders' Serbia: 19 Months of Violence, Harassment, Insults, Threats and Rejection of Dialogue" to actively discredit the student movement. Vučić used his address to accuse unnamed foreign actors of manipulating the youth and attempting to destabilize the country over the past year and a half.

While Vučić did not specify an exact date for when he would dissolve parliament, he called for national unity and stated he would help lead the ruling coalition under a newly proposed nationalist electoral list named "United Serbia."

Vučić argued that the snap elections are necessary to maintain political stability and social cohesion during a critical stage of development. To counter domestic anger over corruption, he pledged continuous efforts to boost living standards, aiming to raise average monthly salaries to 1,400 euros ($1,594 USD) and pensions to 650 euros ($740 USD) in the coming years.

On foreign policy, Vučić reiterated his signature balancing act, promising to accelerate Serbia's path toward European Union membership while maintaining strict "military neutrality" and preserving traditional partnerships with China and Russia. He also struck a firm nationalist note on the disputed territory of Kosovo, declaring its status strictly non-negotiable under the Serbian constitution.

The pro-government rally was attended by over 200,000 people.

Vučić's second five-year presidential term was originally set to end in May 2027, which marks the constitutional limit for consecutive terms. By resigning early, Vučić can legally step down from the ceremonial presidency and directly campaign to return to the office of Prime Minister, which holds no term limits.