The rise of a long-serving mayor to Serbia's prime minister
In short: Miloš Vučević spent a decade reshaping Novi Sad before ascending to the highest office in Serbia. His tenure is defined by massive infrastructure projects, complex political coalitions, and persistent allegations of corruption that have sparked significant public protests.
Born in 1974, Miloš Vučević established his political foundation within the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He became the longest-serving mayor of Novi Sad after winning local elections in 2012, 2016, and 2020. During his decade-long leadership of the city, he oversaw major urban redesigns, including the 'Novi Sad on Water' project—a €2 billion apartment complex on the Danube bank. While Vučević cited global cities like London and New York as inspiration, the project faced intense criticism from NGOs and political rivals who alleged it served organized crime and corruption.
Vučević’s career is marked by a shift from local governance to national defense and leadership. He served as Minister of Defence starting in 2022, where he was involved in the North Kosovo crisis and faced allegations regarding weapons shipments to Ukraine (which he denied). In 2023, he led the SNS to win 48% of the popular vote, subsequently becoming Prime Minister. His national tenure was characterized by efforts to introduce lithium mining and manage trade relations, while simultaneously facing protests over environmental impacts and a high-profile railway station canopy collapse.
His political style is often described as populist, balancing a stance on military neutrality with cooperation with NATO and the United States. Despite branding himself as an anti-corruption politician, he has faced accusations of maintaining ties with controversial businessmen. His leadership eventually faced a crisis in early 2025; following physical attacks by SNS members on students during mass anti-corruption protests, Vučević resigned from the premiership in January 2025.
The lineage of his political influence is notable: his father, Zoran, was a lawyer and former president of the Novi Sad City Assembly. Vučević’s rise was bolstered by close connections to the Vučić family, particularly Aleksandar and Andrej, who have been central figures in Serbian politics.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Miloš Vučević
- Also: Miloš Vučević
- Also: Wikidata — Miloš Vučević novi gradonačelnik Novog Sada · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/places-milo-vu-evi.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Countries and other regions · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics
