The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, dissolved the Parliament on Wednesday and called for early elections on October 25, in a decision aimed at resolving the growing political tension and could allow him to expand his control over the government by running as a candidate for Prime Minister.
Vucic, who has held power as president or prime minister for the past 12 years, has faced a strong wave of protests led mainly by students for almost two years. The protests began after the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, an accident that left 16 dead and triggered demands against corruption and the management of the authorities.
In announcing the dissolution of Parliament in a televised message, Vucic stated that the elections are necessary due to the political tensions the country is experiencing. "If there were no such tensions, if there were no such political conflicts, they certainly would not be necessary," he said.
The president of Serbia announced the dissolution of Parliament and called for early elections in response to a situation of discontent in the country
The president also defended the early call as a measure aimed at preserving democratic stability. According to Vucic, delaying the electoral process could pose a threat to the survival of democracy, so he deemed it necessary for citizens to define the political direction of the country through the ballot box.
The election was initially scheduled for next year, but the advance will allow the government to try to renew its popular support amid growing opposition pressure. Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party had already nominated him on Saturday to compete for the position of Prime Minister.
The potential candidacy presents a particular institutional situation, as Vucic continues to hold the Presidency. It is still unclear whether he will resign from the position before the parliamentary elections to assume a potential role as head of government.
Vucic, who has alternated between the positions of president and Prime Minister in recent years, has not announced whether he will resign from the presidency
Vucic has dominated Serbian politics since 2014, alternating between the Presidency and the position of Prime Minister while maintaining decisive influence over his party. During his tenure, Serbia experienced a period of economic development, although his government has also faced increasing criticism from opposition sectors and civil organizations accusing him of corruption, concentration of power, and authoritarian tendencies.
The upcoming elections will be particularly marked by the student-led protest movement, which has organized some of the largest mobilizations recorded in Serbia in decades over the past few months. The protesters have used the discontent generated by the railway accident to demand accountability, greater transparency, and changes in political leadership.
So far, the student movement has not defined whether it will support a specific candidate or if it will associate with any political bloc to compete in the elections. Its decision could be decisive for the electoral scenario, given the volume of support that the mobilizations have managed to gather.
Multiple protests have taken place in Serbia following the collapse of a marquee that left 16 dead
The early election will also be a test to measure the support that Vucic retains after almost two years of anti-government protests.
The outcome could determine whether Vucic manages to maintain his dominance over Serbian institutions or if the pressure accumulated during the protests finally translates into political change. For the president, the elections offer the opportunity to renew his legitimacy through the ballot box; for his critics, they represent a test of the state of Serbian democracy after years of increasing concentration of power.
