Serbia's governing party has formally proposed that President Aleksandar Vucic become prime minister following an upcoming early parliamentary election, which is viewed as a significant test for the ruling populists. The election is expected to be called for October 25, though Vucic has yet to formally dissolve Parliament.
The vote comes more than a year after a deadly canopy collapse in Novi Sad triggered youth-led demonstrations that blamed government corruption and incompetence. These protests, sometimes drawing hundreds of thousands, have shaken Vucic's authority during his 14 years in power and demanded accountability for the Nov. 1, 2024, tragedy linked to alleged poor renovation work. The election will be held amidst heightened political tensions.
On Saturday, anti-government protesters marched in the city of Niš while Vucic's party held its meeting there. Police reportedly surrounded the National Theater building to prevent protesters from reaching the venue.
Vucic informed party officials that he would call the vote in the coming days and then resign the presidency to campaign. The presidential election would be held at a later date, he stated. Vucic has accused unspecified foreign powers of orchestrating the protests, calling it an external force aiming to destabilize the state.
The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) will face a student-backed election list comprising university professors and experts, alongside right-wing and center-left opposition parties and smaller groups. Earlier this week, a group of university students reported being targeted with spyware, an incident described by the Serbian Share Foundation as the most significant to date, though authorities have dismissed these claims.
Serbia's bid for European Union membership has stalled under Vucic due to concerns about democratic backsliding and irregularities in previous elections. Vucic has maintained close relations with China and has not joined EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.