Serbia government asks president to dissolve parliament, call snap election

Serbia’s government has asked President Aleksandar Vucic to dissolve parliament and set a date for a snap election, as Vucic seeks to reassert his political authority after nearly two years of student-led protests and pursue a return to the premiership.

Vucic is expected to announce the election date in the coming days, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

Under the constitution, between 45 and 60 days must be allowed for the election campaign.

Announcing the request to dissolve parliament, Prime Minister Djuro Macut said: “If we want to mitigate tensions in society there is no better way than to ask people.”

Serbia’s next parliamentary election was not due until December 2027. However, Vucic has said a snap vote could be held earlier, on October 18 or 25.

The election would give Vucic, whose Serbian Progressive Party nominated him on Saturday as its candidate for prime minister, an opportunity to try to restore his authority following protests that have posed the biggest challenge to his rule.

Vucic has governed Serbia as either president or prime minister for 12 years. He has faced sustained anti-corruption demonstrations since the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people.

The opposition and protesters accuse Vucic and his allies of violence against political opponents, widespread corruption, links to organised crime and restricting media freedoms. Vucic and his allies deny the allegations.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov