Serbian prime minister urges president to dissolve parliament for snap vote
Prime Minister Djuro Macut formally asked President Aleksandar Vucic to dissolve the National Assembly and call an early parliamentary election. Vucic has indicated he may seek the prime‑ministerial post and has spoken of forming a smaller cabinet with no more than twelve ministers. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party has put forward a plan for Vucic to resign the presidency and become prime minister if the party wins the upcoming vote. The move comes as student‑led protests continue following the 2024 Novi Sad canopy collapse that killed 16 people.
Why it matters
An early election could reshape Serbia's political landscape amid ongoing anti‑corruption protests.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTAll camps report that President Vucic dissolved parliament and called a snap election, but left-leaning coverage frames it as a move to tighten Vucic’s rule amid protests, centrist coverage highlights Vucic’s own claim that the election will end the crisis, and right-leaning coverage portrays it as an effort to extend his hold on power and labels him a populist.
LEFT
Snap vote presented as a bid to tighten President Vucic’s rule amid anti-government unrest
CENTER
Dissolution framed as a step to resolve the crisis, with Vucic emphasizing the will of the people
RIGHT
Dissolution depicted as Vucic seeking to extend his hold on power, calling him a populist
The left emphasises
- snap election seen as a bid to tighten Vucic’s rule
- protests triggered by the November 2024 canopy collapse
- Vucic accused foreign forces of orchestrating the unrest
The right emphasises
- Vucic seeks to extend his hold on power by running for prime minister
- described as a populist who has been in power for 12 years
- anti-corruption demonstrations after the railway station awning collapse
How this story developed
- Sep 5 Serbian prime minister urges president to dissolve parliament for snap vote
- Sep 7 Vucic announced he will issue a decree for early elections within days.
- Sep 9 President Vucic signaled he may run for prime minister instead of remaining president.
