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Serbia

What is happening there and why it matters.

So it makes sense

Serbia is an EU candidate that simultaneously refuses to join sanctions against Russia — and that double course shapes almost every story from there. Inside the country the longest protest cycle in the Balkans is running, and relations with neighbours break repeatedly over the interpretation of the 1990s wars.

Who governs: The president is Aleksandar Vučić, whose influence reaches far beyond the constitutional powers of the office. His government faces sustained protests, and the US Congress is preparing a bill whose declared aim is to increase pressure on his regime. On 11 September 2026 Vučić announced he will step down on 25 or 26 September after returning from New York and will contest the snap election as an "ordinary citizen"; he is aiming for the post of prime minister.
Who opposes: The most visible opposition is not a party but the student blockade movement, which organises protests across the country — most recently against Vučić’s trip to Niš. Citizens’ assemblies operate in Novi Sad. Tension with neighbours rose after the state-honours funeral of Ratko Mladić, following which Vučić traded sharp words with Zagreb.
Next election: A snap parliamentary election is set for 25 October 2026 — Vučić dissolved parliament on 9 September; the regular vote was not due until 2027.

Context verified 12. 9. 2026. We update it when the government changes or an election comes — the news below is live.

Our take

Serbian elections on October 25: nearly three times more people registered from the diaspora, polling stations are scarce. A list of "blockaders" is circulating in Čačak

Ahead of Serbia's October 25 election, the dispute shifts to technicalities: 93 diaspora polling stations, a "blockaders" list in Čačak, and the ODIHR mission.

What Serbian media say about themselves

last 4. 10. at 08:07

Šabić: Brnabićová violates the law by not calling presidential elections; Dačić warns against a "new 5 October" — Critics say the government is circumventing presidential elections so that Vučić can run for prime minister.

N1 Serbia, N1 Serbia
Tracking since 4. 10. — 2 earlier instalments
1. 4. 10. 16 lists have been registered for the October 25 elections; Študentská listina is campaigning in Vranje and Nový Pazar — The first weeks of the campaign are accompanied by mutual accusations from government-aligned and opposition media. Nova, N1 Serbia, Nova
2. 4. 10. Vučić at the Arena: "Government on Wheels" with 12 ministries instead of 31; SNS is heading into elections on October 25 — Fico did not ultimately speak at the rally; Vučić stated he does not want to be prime minister in a "government of rotten compromises". Danas, Nova, N1 Serbia
Police in Ruma detained an editor of Radio Dir during Vučić's visit; journalists' associations protest — ANEM and UNS are demanding an explanation from the police.

N1 Serbia, Nova
Tracking since 4. 10. — 1 earlier instalment
1. 4. 10. CRTA: The SNS rally in Arena was broadcast live by 46 television stations — According to CRTA, this is an example of inequality between the ruling party and the other lists. N1 Serbia, Danas
Belehrad mayor Šapić questioned by prosecutors; opposition demands his resignation — The prosecutor's office then also responded to public accusations that it "is protecting Šapić".

Danas, N1 Serbia, Nova
Attacks on students in Kaluđerica and Grocka: European Serbia speaks of a second attack in 20 days — The campaign is accompanied by violence, the opposition warns; the mayor of Grocka commented on the attack in a separate statement.

Danas, Nova

How the neighbours see it

mentions of the country in media of surrounding states

Bosnian media: an N1 journalist was attacked again in Belehrad; Hungarian press writes about a blacklist of artists — Népszava claims that Vučić's regime is compiling a list of artists who support the students.

🇧🇦 N1 Bosna, 🇭🇺 Népszava
USA extended licenses for NIS, MOL and JANAF until October 30; MOL's talks on buying NIS reportedly failed — According to the Serbian edition of Forbes, MOL did not reach an agreement with NIS's Russian owners.

🇷🇴 G4Media, 🇭🇷 24sata, 🇭🇺 Telex
Croatia responds to Serbian arms buildup: Anušić talks about Chunmoo missiles, Plenković about "shopping mania" — Hungarian 24.hu writes that Zagreb is watching Belehrad's arms buildup very closely.

🇭🇷 Novi list, 🇭🇷 HRT, 🇭🇺 24.hu
Bosnian and Croatian media: Vučić at the SNS rally – an EU path without sanctions against Russia — Romanian G4Media stressed that thousands of people attended the event and that it marks the launch of Vučić's candidacy for prime minister.

🇧🇦 N1 Bosna, 🇷🇴 G4Media

What happened

2 reports over 14 days in 1 event

Fico left EU summit early, traveled to Serbia

Slovak PM Robert Fico left the EU summit in Brussels early on Friday afternoon. He then traveled to Novi Sad, Serbia, where he wants to ...

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Serbia

Serbian elections on October 25: nearly three times more people registered from the diaspora, polling stations are scarce. A list of "blockaders" is circulating in Čačak

What Serbian media say about themselves

How the neighbours see it

What happened

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