BELGRADE, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday dissolved parliament and announced snap elections for next month as he seeks to extend his hold on power by running for prime minister.
Vucic, a populist who has been in power as president or prime minister for 12 years, has faced nearly two years of anti-corruption demonstrations triggered by the collapse of a railway station awning in the city of Novi Sad in November 2024 that killed 16 people.
“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,” Vucic said in a televised statement. He added that any delay in the election “would threaten the survival of democracy.”
He set the election date as October 25, confirming earlier statements on timing. A parliamentary vote was initially scheduled for next year.
Vucic has ruled as prime minister or president since 2014 and held the reins of power in both positions. While he has overseen a chapter of economic development he has faced growing criticism over perceived corruption and authoritarianism.
Still, he commands support from his ruling Serbian Progressive Party which on Saturday nominated him to run for prime minister in the upcoming elections. It is unclear if Vucic will resign from his position as president before the parliamentary election.
The student-led protest movement, which has organised some of Serbia’s largest demonstrations in decades, has yet to announce whether it will back a candidate or political bloc in the election.
Rasa Nedeljkov of pollster CRTA said the vote would be a test of support for Vucic after nearly two years of anti-government protests.
“Since 2024 it was clear that elections will be a way for the ruling party to seek legitimacy,” Nedeljkov said, while adding that opponents of Vucic faced an uphill battle.
($1 = 100.8700 Serbian dinars)
(Reporting by Ivana SekularacEditing by Ros Russell)
