Serbia moves toward snap parliamentary election amid months of anti-government protests

Serbia has moved closer to an early parliamentary election after the government proposed dissolving parliament, opening the way for a snap vote expected in late October. Prime Minister Djuro Macut announced the move in Belgrade on Monday, saying it was intended to ease tensions in society. The proposal comes after months of sustained anti-government protests and deep political division.

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President Aleksandar Vucic said the election could be held on either 18 October or 25 October, and is expected to set the date in the coming days. Under the constitution, campaigning must last between 45 and 60 days. Parliamentary elections were not due until December next year, making the planned vote an early test of the government's support.

Macut said Serbia had faced protests, blockades, problems in education and pressure on institutions. He added that a responsible government should not ignore calls for early parliamentary elections. The student-led protest movement has long demanded a snap vote, and the latest move is being seen as a response to that pressure.

The announcement also comes after nearly two years of anti-government unrest. The political stakes are high because the vote could help Vucic reassert his authority at a time when his grip on power is being challenged. He has led Serbia as president or prime minister for about 12 years, and there has been speculation that he may seek to move into the role of prime minister.

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The election would therefore be more than a routine parliamentary contest, with implications for the balance of power inside the ruling camp. The unrest has been driven in part by anger over the deaths of 16 people when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in 2024. That disaster became a focal point for anti-corruption demonstrations and broader criticism of the authorities.

Protesters and opposition figures have accused Vucic and his allies of violence against political opponents, corruption, links to organised crime and restrictions on media freedom, allegations they deny. The coming days will determine the formal election date and the shape of the campaign. It remains unclear how the opposition will organise, how the protest movement will respond, and whether the vote will reduce tensions or deepen them.

The result will also be watched for what it means for Serbia's stalled European Union bid and for Vucic's wider political strategy.

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