The current parliament will not only expire the mandate at the beginning of 2028.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučič on Friday showed a willingness to discuss the possibility of announcing early parliamentary elections. At the edge of the summit of the European political community in Tirana, Vučič said before journalists that “parliamentary elections may take place during a year and a half if the institutions concerned take the necessary steps.” Informed DPA, writes TASR.
According to DPA, this is the first signal from Vučič’s side that early elections could come into account. Vučič and his government have been facing mass student protests for six months, which he supports – by his participation – part of the Serbian public.
These protests began after a tragedy in the North Srba city of Nový Sad, where 16 people lost their life as a result of the collapse of the newly reconstructed superstructure above the entrance to the railway station. Local protest grew into a national movement against corruption and poor state management. Demonstrators blame the government of controlling institutions, insufficient transparency and authoritative government style.
The student movement called on Vučič to dissolve Parliament and announce the elections in early May. However, Vučič also claimed on Friday in Tirana that the relevant institutions have not yet received such a request – students from the city of Niš addressed such an official call a few days ago.
Nichian university students who continue their university blockade and announce an anti -government meeting for the weekend, and on Friday Vučič again publicly called on to announce early parliamentary elections as part of their institutional authority. This is a response to Vučič’s claim that he has not yet received such a request from the protestors.
Observers say that the protest movement in Serbia is changing the political scene, which has been almost exclusively dominated by Vučič and his Serbian progressive party (SNS). At the same time, students appeal to the divided opposition to unite and build a common front against the ruling coalition. According to experts, such an alliance, supported by the civil movement, could have a real chance of success in the elections.
