Serbia’s government has proposed the dissolution of parliament, which paves the way for early elections. Prime Minister Djuro Macut announced the call in Belgrade on Monday. This move is viewed as an effort to strengthen President Aleksandar Vucic’s rule amid nearly two years of anti-government protests. Parliamentary elections were originally scheduled for December next year, but Vucic announced plans to hold a vote in late October, with speculation that he may seek to transition into the role of prime minister.
The early election will serve as a test of Vucic's political grip, as he has led the country as either president or prime minister for 12 years. Recent large-scale anti-corruption demonstrations, which followed the deaths of 16 people due to a concrete canopy collapse at a railway station in 2024, have posed significant challenges to his administration. The student-led protest movement has been advocating for early elections.
“If we want to mitigate tensions in society there is no better way than to ask people,” Macut stated during the announcement. He noted that Serbia has experienced protests, blockades, and deep divisions, and that parts of the public have been calling for early parliamentary elections, emphasizing that “a responsible government never ignores such demands.”
Vucic is expected to announce the election date soon, as the constitution requires a campaigning period of 45 to 60 days. He has indicated that the vote will take place on either October 18 or 25. This election would provide Vucic, whose Serbian Progressive Party nominated him to run for prime minister, an opportunity to reaffirm his authority.
Opposition groups and demonstrators have accused Vucic and his allies of violence against political opponents, corruption, connections with organized crime, and restricting media freedoms. Vucic and his associates have denied these allegations. Additionally, Vucic’s opponents have criticized the stagnation of Serbia’s bid to join the European Union, while the president has focused on maintaining strong ties with Russia and China.
In the past week, Vucic has faced increased EU pressure regarding public tributes to war criminal Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander, who was buried as a hero in Serbia on Monday despite his conviction by a United Nations court.