Serbian President Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Elections Amid Domestic Criticism and EU Pressure

Snap elections called as President Vucic faces growing public discontent amid accusations of government violence and repression, while also trying to balance EU membership aspirations with contentious dealings over Kosovo's status and close ties with Russia.

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has dissolved parliament and called for snap elections on December 17, amidst political pressure from domestic critics and the European Union.
• The president and his party, the Serbian Progressive Party, are facing accusations of promoting a culture of violence and limiting media and electoral freedom. This follows public unrest caused by back-to-back shootings in May that resulted in 18 deaths.
• The checks and balances of the EU membership process could represent a significant challenge for Serbia, as it requires sanctioning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, tackling organized crime and corruption, and upholding the rule of law and human rights.
• Parallel to these concerns, Serbia is being asked by the EU to normalize its relationship with Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but is still regarded as part of its territory by Belgrade.
• Some observers suggest Vucic may be using the impending elections as a delay tactic to avoid addressing the sensitive issue of Kosovo's independence.

3 Articles

Al Jazeera Reuters Associated Press