Serbia finds itself in a period of internal strain as protests and political tensions persist against the current government. President Aleksandar Vučić has announced the dissolution of parliament and called for early parliamentary elections. The plan envisions a fresh vote to form a new parliament and elect officials across 64 municipalities. The announcement was reported on December 17.
The move to push voters back to the polls for a third time in four years was anticipated by many observers. Vučić had signaled as much in mid-October, framing the decision as part of a strategy to consolidate political power and silence critics of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. He stressed the need for unity in protecting Serbia’s vital national and state interests as he addressed the nation.
Analysts note that the timing of the proclamation comes at a moment of heightened tension for Serbia, both domestically and in the region. Belgrade is entangled in a longstanding dispute with Pristina over municipalities in northern Kosovo, where a Serb majority resides, and there remains opposition to Kosovo authorities regarding the status of these municipalities within Kosovo. The crisis escalated last September when clashes occurred between Kosovo Albanian police and armed attackers.
internal discomfort
Within Serbia, Vučić’s conservative administration has faced a wave of demonstrations following two mass shootings in May that drew thousands into the streets. Critics accused the president and his government of stoking violence and fostering an atmosphere of suspicion, especially as the country weighs a future path toward European Union membership. The unrest prompted several opposition groups to form a unified slate for the upcoming elections, aiming to coordinate votes across the capital and other municipalities.
The unified list brings together diverse voices including the Freedom and Justice Party associated with former Belgrade mayor Dragan Đilas, the Serbian People’s Movement led by Miroslav Aleksić, and the Green Front-Left/Ne Davimo Beograd coalition. Other participants include the Srce (Heart) movement, once led by Zdravko Ponoš and influential in protests linked to environmental concerns and calls for reform. The Democratic Party, which governed the country before Vučić’s rise, the Free Citizens Movement, and the Together party—each with liberal, pro-European leanings—also feature in this broad alliance. In Belgrade and beyond, the plan is to increase cross-party coordination in the electoral process.
On the other side, Vučić’s party is slated to receive backing in Belgrade and several other municipalities from factions aligned with the Serbian Radical Party, a longtime force in the country’s political landscape. The party is led by a controversial figure associated with past war crimes allegations. It remains unclear whether this figure will stand as a candidate in the elections, but the potential presence is likely to influence the dynamics of the race and the public conversation around national security and identity.