Belgrade – The Serbian government announced on Monday that it will initiate the constitutional process to dissolve the National Assembly and call an early parliamentary election, likely to be held on Oct. 25. President Aleksandar Vučić is expected to resign his presidential post and run for prime minister, a move that would keep him at the helm of the country’s executive branch.
Why the early vote matters
The proposed election comes after more than a year of mass street demonstrations that began following a tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station in Novi Sad on Nov. 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. Protesters have demanded accountability for the unsafe construction, an end to what they describe as systemic corruption, and greater democratic freedoms.
Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SPP), which has dominated Serbian politics since 2012, faces criticism from opposition groups and international observers for curbing independent media, limiting judicial independence, and alleged ties to organized crime. The president has repeatedly denied these accusations.
Political backdrop
Serbia’s bid to join the European Union has stalled under Vučić, who maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with both Russia and China. Recent EU pressure intensified after a controversial public homage to convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic, whose burial as a hero sparked condemnation from Western capitals.
Vučić has said he will step down from the presidency to focus on the campaign, noting that the constitution bars a president from seeking a third term. An early presidential election will be held separately, allowing him to pursue the prime minister’s office while a new head of state is elected.
Response from protesters and opposition
Opposition leaders and student groups have warned that the early election is a tactic to consolidate power and silence dissent. They accuse the government of using police force and arbitrary detentions to suppress demonstrations. Vučić, however, has framed the protests as an attempt to “destroy the state,” insisting that the upcoming vote will restore stability and allow citizens to choose their representatives.
The student‑backed electoral list is expected to feature university professors and experts, signaling a push for technocratic expertise within the parliament.
What comes next
Vučić is slated to formally set the election date later this week. If the early vote proceeds as planned, Serbia will head to the polls in a highly charged atmosphere, with the ruling SPP seeking to retain its parliamentary majority and the opposition hoping to capitalize on public discontent.
International observers will likely monitor the election closely, given concerns about media freedom, electoral fairness, and the broader trajectory of Serbia’s democratic institutions.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
