Following mounting political pressure from both domestic critics and the European Union (EU), President Aleksandar Vucic has announced that Serbia will hold snap elections next month. This comes after Vucic dissolved parliament in response to the pressure. The parliamentary vote and parallel local elections will take place on December 17, less than two years after the Serbian Progressive Party’s victory in the previous elections. Vucic stated during a live television announcement that these elections are necessary to address the global challenges, conflicts, and preserve the national and state interests of Serbia. However, Vucic is facing criticism from the political opposition and the general public due to the back-to-back shootings in May that resulted in the deaths of 18 people. The opposition accuses Vucic and his party of promoting violence, suppressing media and electoral freedom, and ignoring the demands of protesters. To secure EU membership, Serbia must comply with the EU’s rules, including tackling corruption, organized crime, and human rights issues, and normalizing its relationship with Kosovo. Some observers believe that Vucic has called for elections to postpone addressing this politically sensitive issue. The conflict between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbians in Kosovo has been ongoing since the late 1990s, and tensions flared in September, prompting Serbia to send troops to its border.