President of the Serbian Progressive Party (Srpska napredna stranka, SNS), Miloš Vučević, resigned from the party leadership during today's meeting of the SNS Main Board at the Belgrade Arena, proposing Aleksandar Vučić as the new president. The proposal was unanimously supported by all 657 members of the Main Board present. The session was broadcast live by Informer television.
Vučević announced an extraordinary SNS assembly for 13 December, at which the party's new leadership will be elected. "Given that we face a far from easy political battle in the National Assembly of Serbia, as well as in every municipality, and considering that it is time for a new chapter in the work and life of our party, that we need new strength and energy, courage, fight, boldness and responsibility towards the citizens of Serbia, I propose that we decide to convene an extraordinary session of the Party Assembly on 13 December," Vučević said. He added that the SNS leadership must take responsibility for what it had done in the previous period and prepare the party for new political challenges.
Vučević stated that the SNS was the only party that had survived what he called a "colour revolution", referring to the mass protests against Vučić's government. He also said that the SNS had always made decisions on important issues democratically and that the party now faces a difficult period and a political battle in the Serbian parliament and local communities. He announced that the SNS would lead Serbia into a "political fight against terror".
Aleksandar Vučić stated that he would protect anyone who is politically persecuted after his party's defeat in the parliamentary elections. "I am to blame, let them persecute me," Vučić said at the SNS Main Board meeting in Belgrade. He said he would not protect anyone who had stolen money, but that he would protect anyone persecuted solely for being a political opponent, citing the case of the General Staff as an example.
Vučić said that the Progressives had wanted the best for their country during their rule and that no one had stolen a single dinar from such projects. He emphasised that no one had enriched themselves, unlike those who do not know how many houses and apartments they have abroad and at home. He also stated that he would protect and look after his people and stand up to them at every step.
Vučić was president of the Serbian Progressive Party from 2012 to May 2023, when he decided to leave the top position in the party and proposed Miloš Vučević as his successor. Vučević was elected to the head of the SNS on 27 May 2023 at an extraordinary assembly in Kragujevac. Vučić then stated that he would remain a member of the party, while Vučević announced that its policy would not change. Following the defeat in the parliamentary elections on 25 October, the SNS is electing new leadership, and Vučević now wants Vučić to replace him at the head of the party again.
