Parliament elections were supposed to take place only in December 2027, but President Aleksandar Vučić announced after nearly two years of anti-government unrest that the vote will be held at the end of October.
The student-led anti-corruption movement emerged after a canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station in November 2024. Sixteen people died in that accident, which protesters blame on entrenched corruption.
Initial demands for a transparent investigation later grew into calls for early elections, which are now scheduled for October 25 after several months of delay.
“I propose that the government, guided by the Constitution, ask the president to dissolve the National Assembly and call parliamentary elections,” Prime Minister Đuro Mačuta said at an extraordinary government session.
“Serbia has faced protests, blockades, deep disagreements, problems in education, and great pressure on institutions,” he told ministers.
“For some time now, part of the public has been demanding early parliamentary elections,” he said, adding that “a responsible government never ignores such demands.”
A. Vučić, who has been in power since 2012, now has 72 hours to accept this proposal and dissolve parliament.
Read more Silver Venice Lion laureate Banushi: the play «Mami» is an ode to motherhood and love
Earlier, he hinted that he would do so on September 9 or 10, i.e., before the final deadline that must be met for elections to take place in October.
Students organizing university blockades have been demanding early elections since May 2025.
Government officials have repeatedly said they will announce elections but did not specify a date.
A. Vučić stated at the end of June that he would resign from the presidency before the end of his term in April 2027 to be able to participate in the election campaign.
His right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party decided at a meeting over the weekend to ask him to lead the party’s election list and run for prime minister.
Read more 7 «unhealthy» foods worth eating if you want to reduce stress
