Serbia Moves Toward Snap Election as Vucic Eyes Premiership

Serbia’s government on Monday formally asked President Aleksandar Vucic to dissolve parliament and set a date for a snap election. After nearly two years of student-led protests, Vucic is seeking to strengthen his position in Serbian politics and become prime minister.

The date of the parliamentary election is expected to be announced in the coming days, with the constitution requiring a campaign period of between 45 and 60 days.

Announcing the move to dissolve parliament, Prime Minister Djuro Macut said a public vote was the best way to ease tensions in society. Regular elections were not due until December 2027, but Vucic has said an early vote will be held on 18 or 25 October.

The Serbian Progressive Party nominated him on Saturday to run for prime minister. A snap election would allow Vucic to try to reassert his authority after protests that posed the greatest challenge to his rule.

Vucic has led the country as president or prime minister for 12 years. The anti-corruption demonstrations were sparked by the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 16 people.

The opposition and demonstrators accuse Vucic and his allies of violence against political opponents, widespread corruption, ties to organized crime and suppressing media freedom. Vucic and his allies deny the allegations.

(Reuters, max)