Dacic After 2.17%: SPS Will Rise, Djuric Resigns in Bor

Ivica Dacic, president of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), spoke publicly for the first time since the snap parliamentary elections of October 25, in an Instagram post on Monday evening, October 26. According to preliminary results from the Republic Electoral Commission, the “Ivica Dacic - Stability Factor” list won 93,280 votes, or 2.17 percent, and no seats. The results are not final until the commission declares them.

On Tuesday morning came the first local resignation over the result: Dobrica Djuric, president of the SPS City Board in Bor, submitted an irrevocable resignation as president of the Bor City Assembly.

What did Dacic write after the election?

The news agency Tanjug carried the post on October 26 at 10:34 p.m. In it, Dacic thanked voters and called for calm. The full text reads:

“Thank you to everyone who voted for us in impossible conditions and atmosphere. Life consists of ups and downs. It is not terrible to fall, what matters is to get up. As always, we will rise again, stronger and firmer. All of us must preserve our dignity and peace. And our country, Serbia. With me or without me, it makes no difference. This people and this party will live!”

With the line “With me or without me, it makes no difference,” Dacic left open the question of whether he will stay at the head of the party. That is not a resignation: none of the sources we read says he has stepped down. We reported earlier that Dacic had spoken of an SPS congress in February and of remaining minister until a new government is formed.

What is known about the resignation in Bor?

Djuric resigned on October 27, two days after the election, in a letter addressed to the City Assembly and its councillors. He confirmed it to the Bor portal Bor 030. He cited the SPS result as his reason, and the letter states:

“The citizens gave their verdict on my work in the elections of October 25, 2026. That verdict shows that I have no legitimacy to remain in this office.”

According to Bor 030, Djuric added in the letter that over recent months he had tried to run the Assembly in the interest of all Bor residents, respecting democratic principles and the differing views of councillors. He closed by thanking the citizens of Bor and wishing them health, success and personal and family happiness.

Newsmax Balkans reports that Djuric has been an SPS member for three decades and was elected president of the Bor City Assembly in May. The outlet also writes that he described the resignation as the only honorable solution and that he now wants to devote himself to his family.

None of the sources says who will temporarily take over the running of the Bor City Assembly, or when councillors will consider the resignation. The official declaration of the election results is still to come, so the figures in this article refer to the Republic Electoral Commission’s preliminary count.