Serbia snap elections October 2026

On August 20, 2026, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that snap parliamentary elections will be held on October 18 or 25, 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed in the coming days. The elections were originally scheduled for December 2027. This announcement follows Vucic's June 27 pledge to resign within weeks and hold early parliamentary and presidential elections, prompted by 18 months of anti-government protests. The protests, led by students, were triggered by the November 2024 collapse of an awning at a railway station in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. Vucic did not specify when he would resign to trigger the presidential vote. Analysts suggest Vucic may become prime minister if his Serbia — Serbian Progressive Party wins the parliamentary elections, continuing his dominance. Serbia, an EU candidate, faces requirements to improve rule of law and align foreign policies with the bloc, while maintaining ties with Russia and China. Opposition figures accuse Vucic of corruption and stifling media freedoms, allegations he denies.