Serbia’s Vucic dissolves parliament and calls October snap election

Belgrade, Serbia. President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament on Wednesday and called snap parliamentary elections for October 25, confirming his intention to seek the post of prime minister.

Election announcement

Vucic said the vote, initially scheduled for next year, was necessary because of political tensions and conflicts in the country.

“Were the elections necessary for us if there were no such tensions, if there were no such political conflicts, certainly they would not be necessary,” he said in a televised statement.

He added that any delay in holding the election “would threaten the survival of democracy.”

Protests and political pressure

Vucic has faced nearly two years of anti-corruption demonstrations following the collapse of a railway station awning in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people.

The president has held power as either prime minister or president for 12 years and has ruled in one of the two positions since 2014. While overseeing economic development, he has faced growing criticism over perceived corruption and authoritarianism.

Prime minister bid

Vucic’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party nominated him on Saturday as its candidate for prime minister in the upcoming elections.

It remains unclear whether Vucic will resign as president before the parliamentary vote or after it.