This vote is considered a major test for populists after more than a year of street protests. A. Vučić still has to officially dissolve the parliament and announce elections, which are expected to take place on October 25.
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The vote will take place nearly two years after the roof of a railway station collapsed in northern Serbia, killing 16 people. This sparked youth-led demonstrations blaming government corruption and incompetence for the tragedy.
The elections will be held in an atmosphere of increased political tension, with populists seeking to retain power despite widespread public dissatisfaction.
Many anti-government protesters marched in the city of Niš on Saturday while A. Vučić’s party held a meeting there. Police surrounded the National Theatre building to prevent protesters from reaching the meeting venue.
A. Vučić told party officials that he will announce the elections in the coming days. According to him, he will then resign from the presidency to officially join the campaign. Presidential elections will be held later, he indicated.
More than a year of demonstrations, sometimes gathering hundreds of thousands of people, have shaken A. Vučić more than ever during his 14 years in power. Protesters demanded accountability for the concrete roof collapse in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, and the removal of corruption, which they believe was the cause of poorly executed renovation works.
A. Vučić strongly opposed the protesters, and the government faced international criticism for police violence and arbitrary detentions of demonstrators. He repeatedly accused Serbian university students and lecturers standing behind the protests of intending to “destroy the state” without evidence.
The Serbian president reiterated such claims on Saturday, stating that the protests were organized by unnamed foreign forces.
“This evil comes not from within, but from outside,” said A. Vučić.
The SNS party will face an election list supported by students, which is expected to include university lecturers and experts, although their names have not been publicly disclosed. The contest will also include right-wing and center-left opposition parties and several smaller political forces.
A group of university students earlier this week reported that they were among at least 14 people targeted by spyware earlier this year.
The Serbian “Share Foundation” group described this as the largest such incident to date.
A. Vučić’s officials dismissed these reports.
Serbia officially seeks membership in the European Union (EU), but these efforts have stalled under A. Vučić’s rule due to democratic backsliding, including violations during previous votes.
A. Vučić refused to join EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and maintains close relations with China.
