Serbian President Vučić dissolves parliament, sets October 25 election date

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Wednesday signed two decrees — one dissolving the National Assembly and another setting early parliamentary elections for October 25. The move was reported by "European Pravda," citing N1.

With this decision, Vučić acted on a request the government made on September 7, when it called on the president to dissolve parliament.

Reasoning behind the move

Vučić attributed his decision to social tension and political disagreements, warning that delaying the elections would endanger the preservation of democracy in Serbia as well as preparations for the EXPO-2027 international exhibition, set to take place in Belgrade. He said now is the time to prepare for EXPO and to keep working after voters decide who will lead Serbia's government.

The president called for the election and the campaign preceding it to be conducted "peacefully and with dignity," stressing the importance of mutual respect among all sides as well as the right to assembly and free expression.

Vučić's decision comes as no surprise, as he had already announced plans for early parliamentary elections back in June. He also said he would leave his post within a few days of announcing the parliamentary vote.

Background

The announcement follows months of large-scale anti-government protests that began in December 2024, after 16 people were killed when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad.

Recently, the leadership of Serbia's ruling Progressive Party unanimously decided to nominate Aleksandar Vučić as the top candidate on the "Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia" electoral list and as its candidate for prime minister.