The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, dissolved the National Assembly by decree and officially scheduled early parliamentary elections for December 17, Serbian national TV RTS reported.
“Dear citizens, I wish you a successful election. We live in times that are difficult for the whole world, in a time of global challenges, wars and conflicts, in a time when we all need to be united in the fight to preserve the vital national and state interests of the Republic of Serbia, at a time when we are facing pressure over our attitude towards Kosovo and Metohija and other regional and global issues,” Vucic said in an address after the election was scheduled.
He stressed that it is important for Serbia to maintain peace, stability and internal cohesion and to show democracy.
“I would say that this campaign is an opportunity in a civilized way to show different ideas, programs, policies that should compete, but which will never endanger our vital state, people and national interests,” said Vucic, quoted by BTA.
He wished good results in presenting the ideas and goals of the participants in the elections.
“I wish them to do everything in a democratic and civilized way, it is important for the citizens of Serbia to defeat the best ideas and programs. I am confident that we are strengthening democracy and providing a safe path for the future of our children,” he added.
Earlier today, the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Vladimir Orlić, scheduled December 17 for local elections in about 60 settlements on the territory of Serbia.
Several city and municipal mayors in Serbia, including Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić, resigned last month. Serbian media wrote that this was done by party order so that the local vote could also be held in December. Regular local elections should be held in June 2024.
The last parliamentary elections in Serbia were in April last year. Vučić’s party received the most support – the Serbian Progressive Party (SPP), which has 120 seats in the parliament out of a total of 240.
In mid-September, the pro-European opposition in the Serbian parliament signed the so-called Victory Pact, which aims for the cooperation of all opposition parties and movements to ensure free and fair elections to challenge the current SPP-led government. Before that, part of the opposition asked the head of state in writing to call early parliamentary and Belgrade elections by the end of the year.
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