What Triggered the Crisis? A Complete Timeline of Serbia’s 19-Month Protest Movement

How Long the Protests Have Lasted

The protests began in November 2024 and continued without interruption through June 2026 — roughly 19 months and counting. Key milestones in the timeline:

• By early 2025: Demonstrations had spread to over 400 towns and cities across Serbia.
• January 28, 2025: Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned in a bid to calm tensions.
• March 15, 2025: A student-led march in Belgrade drew over 100,000 participants, the largest single protest at that point. A stampede later that day led to allegations that the government deployed a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters — claims the government denied.
• Summer 2025: Protests intensified, with renewed calls for snap elections and escalating violence. By July, demonstrations were held in more than 500 cities and towns.
• January 2026: Foreign Policy reported "more than a year" of unbroken marches, blockades, campus sit-ins, and mass demonstrations, but noted that the opposition had gained little tangible leverage.
• May 23, 2026: A massive protest in Belgrade drew between 180,000 and 190,000 people.
• June 27, 2026: President Vučić announced his resignation at a pro-government rally.

Who Resigned Earlier

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned on January 28, 2025, along with the mayor of Novi Sad. This was a major concession to protesters, but the demonstrations continued and escalated.

Key Implications of Early Elections for Serbia’s Political Future

• End of Vučić’s uninterrupted dominance? Vučić has held power for 12 years as either prime minister or president. His promised resignation would end his current term — set to run until mid-2027 — and trigger snap elections. This is a direct concession driven by relentless protest pressure.
• Uncertainty about democratic transition. While early elections could create an opening for political change, the opposition had gained little leverage even after 19 months of protests. Vučić and his party remain firmly in control, and the government has repeatedly responded with arrests and police crackdowns.
• EU relations and democratic credibility. The European Parliament notes the protests "may signal a turning point in Serbia's democratic development and reshape its European future." How early elections are conducted — whether free and fair — will be closely watched in Brussels as a test of Serbia's EU accession path.
• Risk of a managed transition. Critics warn Vučić may attempt to retain power behind the scenes by backing a loyal successor, as he has done before after previous resignation announcements. The opposition remains fragmented, and the SNS retains strong institutional control.