Voting has begun in Serbia’s parliamentary and local elections, and President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling party is facing a tough challenge. While Vucic himself is not on the ballot, the elections are seen as a referendum on his government. The right-wing Serbian Progressive Party (SPS) is expected to retain its rule in parliament, but faces strong opposition in municipal races, particularly in the capital, Belgrade.
The elections come after widespread unrest over high inflation, corruption, and gun violence, which led to the formation of the “Serbia Against Violence” alliance. Vucic has dismissed the protests as a foreign plot and has tried to offset rising prices with state spending and promises to increase pensions and salaries.
Opposition parties and rights watchdogs have accused Vucic and the SPS of voter bribery, media censorship, violence against opponents, corruption, and ties to organized crime, which they deny. The outcome of the elections will have implications for Serbia’s domestic and foreign policies, as the country seeks European Union membership and faces pressure to normalize ties with Kosovo and introduce sanctions on Russia.