Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament on Wednesday and called early elections for December 17. The parliamentary elections will take place simultaneously with local elections in 65 municipalities, including the capital Belgrade.
The new elections are mainly seen in the context of recent tensions with southern neighbor Kosovo. Serbia does not yet recognize the independence of its former province.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed during a visit to Belgrade on Tuesday that both countries must step up normalization of relations after the recent flare-up of violence if they want to join the EU.
New line for Serbia
The move towards early elections in Serbia is interpreted as meaning that Vucic can now determine a new line by December 17. On the one hand, he has to take Serbian nationalists into account, but on the other hand, he is accused of inflaming sentiment against Kosovo itself.
“We live in a time when it is necessary that we are all united in the struggle for Serbia’s vital (…) interests, when we are under pressure both because of our position on Kosovo and because of other regional and global issues. will be advised,” Vucic said on Wednesday.
Serbia last voted in April last year
Serbian citizens were last asked to go to the polls in April of the previous year.
The EU is calling for the country to join Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, fight corruption and organized crime, reform the economy, improve the country’s judiciary and business environment, as well as its human rights record.
Source: Krone
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