Serbia to hold early parliamentary elections on October 25
Quick Look
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that early legislative elections will take place on October 25 in Serbia, following a student protest movement triggered by the fatal collapse of an awning at Novi Sad station in November 2024, which left sixteen people dead and fueled accusations of corruption.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Since November 2024, Serbia has been shaken by a student protest movement triggered by the fatal collapse of an awning at Novi Sad station, which left sixteen people dead and was seen as the result of systemic corruption in the country candidate for membership of the European Union.
Early legislative elections, long demanded by a student protest movement, will be organized in Serbia on October 25, President Aleksandar Vucic announced Tuesday evening.
Mr. Vucic said in an interview on national television (RTS) that he would sign the decree dissolving Parliament on Wednesday and call the vote immediately. “Elections will take place in Serbia on October 25. (...) I believe that we will ultimately succeed, after the elections, in getting out of this crisis,” declared the Serbian head of state.
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Serbia has been agitated since November 2024 by a vast protest movement born from the fatal collapse of an awning in the Novi Sad station, in the north of the country. This accident, which left sixteen dead, provoked the anger of hundreds of thousands of citizens, led by a student movement, who saw it as the result of the corruption which, according to them, is plaguing this country which is negotiating its accession to the European Union.
The hope of alternation
Initial calls for a transparent investigation into the tragedy have transformed into demands for early elections. Mr. Vucic regularly promised that this election would be held, giving approximate dates. The protest movement seems to have lost steam over time, but the students announced that they would present their own list for the vote.
Nationalist leader Aleksandar Vucic, 56, has been in power as prime minister or president for more than a decade. Elected president in 2017, then re-elected in 2022, for a five-year mandate, he recently declared that he was going to resign immediately after officially calling the legislative elections, to launch into the campaign, hinting at his ambition to return to the post of Prime Minister.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Aleksandar Vucic will resign from the presidency shortly after signing the decree to dissolve Parliament to embark on the election campaign.
Very likely · Within days
The student movement will present its own list in the legislative elections on October 25.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the student movement manage to present a credible electoral list against the ruling party?
- Will the October 25 elections be perceived as free and fair by the opposition and international observers?
- Will Aleksandar Vucic keep his promise to resign after the polls are called to launch the electoral campaign?
