Serbia dissolves parliament as snap elections called

Serbia will head to the polls in late October after President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament following growing pressure from protesters demanding political change. However, Vucic plans to stand as a PM candidate.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed an order on Wednesday calling for an early election after dissolving parliament.

"Elections will be held in Serbia on October 25. I believe that, after the elections, we will finally emerge from this crisis," he said.

"We have had … huge turbulences," Vucic said in an televised address. "We need election results that will clearly show the will of the people and the direction where Serbia is going."

What led to snap elections?

Since November 2024, student-led protests have demanded Vucic step down, alleging corruption ⁠and authoritarianism. Initial calls for a transparent investigation turned into demands for snap elections.

The protests emerged after the collapse of a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad, which left at least 16 people dead. Protesters say corruption led to shoddy construction work. 

Hundreds of thousands of people have been protesting for nearly two years, accusing the president and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party of having ties with organized crime and of slowing Serbia’s EU accession bid.  

Vucic, who has close ties with Rusia and China, has denied the accusations. He has blamed the protestors for attempting to "destroy the state." 

Hundreds have been detained while participating in demonstrations.

Nationalist leader Vucic has held power as both president and prime minister for more than a decade.

He is not allowed to run for another presidential term, but he has said he plans to run for prime minister instead. Vucic still commands the support of his party, and is expected to announce his resignation from the presidency in the next days and start his campaign for the parliamentary vote.  

Edited by: Wesley Rahn

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