Why is Serbia voting again?
#15
Salute,
Today, we take a quick look at Serbia.
President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament last week and called an election on 17 December 2023.
Weren't there elections just last year?
Exactly. General elections were held in Serbia on 3 April 2022 to elect both the president of Serbia and members of the National Assembly.
Then why elections again?
It is said that Vucic is aiming to cement his authority as he works out how to normalise ties with Kosovo, the main precondition for EU membership.
What is the tension between Serbia and Kosovo about?
Kosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian territory that was part of Serbia before it declared independence. The Serbian government has refused to recognise Kosovo's statehood, even though it has no formal control there. There are steady tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. In September, for example, 30 heavily armed Serbs barricaded themselves in an Orthodox monastery in northern Kosovo, setting off a daylong gunbattle with police that left one officer and three attackers dead. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Serbia of sending the attackers into Kosovo, Vucic denied that.
How should early elections in Serbia change these tensions?
Experts say the vote and the absence of a working parliament will allow Vucic to buy time and delay decisions over ties with Kosovo. As said, a solution to the Kosovo case is necessary for joining the European Union, which Vucic continues to strive for.
Does Vucic have to fear for his power in the election?
No. It is not the president who will be re-elected, but "only" the parliament. Vucic's party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)-coalition, is the strongest in this parliament, with 109 out of 250 seats. According to Belgrade-based Stata pollster, the SNS-led alliance would garner around 44 per cent of votes, and it will again have to seek allies to form a majority in parliament.
So, not that much change is expected, right?
Right. Vucic's move could also aimed at solidifying his own ranks and reforming his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), whose popularity has been dented after months of opposition protests, following the two mass shootings in spring.
Last question: What is the actual status of democracy in Serbia?
Vucic was elected president in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Since he came to power, observers have assessed that Serbia has suffered from democratic backsliding into authoritarianism, followed by a decline in media freedom and civil liberties. The non-profit organisation Freedom House notes that SNS "eroded political rights and civil liberties, put pressure on independent media, the opposition, and civil society organisations". In 2017, the country received 76 out of 100 points from Freedom House, now it is only 60.
So, democracy is in danger in Serbia.
That's the sad way it is.
See you,
Johannes Eber