This automatically translated article was originally published by Istinomer.
The President of Serbia on snap parliamentary elections (RTS, April 7, 2026):
“We are going to face a huge, huge global crisis, the biggest we have ever seen. Much bigger than the financial crisis of 2008. (…) If I see a major crisis coming, there will certainly be no summer elections. If I see peace taking shape, I would not rule out holding elections in the summer. Let me be absolutely clear: the interests of the state, the interests of citizens, come first.”
In April 2026, almost a year after students participating in the blockades officially called for snap parliamentary elections, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that “there will be no summer elections” because the country would “face the biggest global crisis we have ever seen,” and that elections would only go ahead “if he sees peace taking shape,” since, as he put it, he would be guided “above all by the interests of the state.”
RTS, April 7, 2026
“We are going to face a huge, huge global crisis, the biggest we have ever seen. Much bigger than the financial crisis of 2008. And regardless of the fact that we now have incomparably more capable and better-prepared leadership, I am asking the government to get ready for that meeting after Easter. (…) Your question is elections or this… I have not yet heard from even half of the political parties, and even after that the question is whether we will make a decision immediately or 15 days later, because I am not a man who makes decisions hastily. I listen to everyone, I hear everyone, I listen to everyone, and I think the discussions within the largest and most responsible political party in Serbia will be very difficult, very delicate and very long. And they will not last an hour, as the formal meeting here with the President of the Republic does. They will last for days and weeks. There are different opinions, different schools of thought within the largest political party, which is logical. That party has more support than all the other parties in Serbia combined. It has greater support and greater trust. So, first you listen to everyone else; I know how much turmoil there is, different positions, different opinions, and they will have to reach an agreement on this issue. And before they do, I am sure they will want to hear my position and my opinion as well. And I need both time and serious consideration for that. But I will be guided, above all, by the interests of the state. If I see a major crisis coming, there will certainly be no summer elections. If I see peace taking shape, I would not rule out holding elections in the summer. Let me be absolutely clear: the interests of the state, the interests of citizens, come first.”
Several more months passed. No elections were called, but the Serbian president continued to speak about the difficult situation caused by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
TV Pink, July 30, 2026
“Unfortunately, that difference is going to shrink, and we will no longer be making any money, because we will have to raise excise duties to 30 or even 40 percent if the wars in Ukraine and Iran continue. How we are going to withstand that financially is another matter.”
In the first days of September, while visiting numerous places across Serbia, President Vučić continued to refer to the difficult security situation around the world. In Rusko Selo, near Kikinda, he said that armed conflicts and tensions around the world were becoming increasingly pronounced, noting that relations between Russia and Germany “extremely concern” him.
TV Pink, September 3, 2026
“This is not profitable and it is impossible, and it will not pay off anytime soon, because armed conflicts are only being announced. Both armed conflicts and tensions are growing. When tensions are like this, you can see where it is all heading. And I am very, very concerned about gas prices, as well as oil prices. But when I say that, I would say those are only secondary consequences of what is really happening, namely the growing tensions and the increasingly clear possibility, or likelihood, of new conflicts. I would say broader conflicts. I am extremely concerned about relations between Russia and Germany, extremely. And I am particularly, particularly concerned — and I don’t know whether I will speak about this on Sunday or Saturday — because I see that the Albanians have scheduled a major march for September 12, a major march for freedom, as they have called it, expecting Hashim Thaçi to be released. Kadri Veseli and the others. They are announcing violence and putting pressure on the court if that does not happen.”
“The conflict between America and Iran is continuing, the conflict in Ukraine is continuing, and things will only get worse this winter,” he said the following day in Niš, while at the same time speaking about the need for Serbia to have a smaller, more efficient and faster government with him at its head.
TV Pink, September 4, 2026
“Tomorrow, let me reveal this to you, so I don’t take up too much of your time, I am going to propose something. So, if I get the people’s support to be a candidate for prime minister, I will tell you just one thing today, and I will present that programme when my presidential term ends. My idea is for the next government to have — today we have 31 ministers, if I’m not mistaken, kill me, is it 30, 32 or… My proposal will be, and this is what it is, that we accept our own analyses and our own mistakes, and that people understand that we have recognised them. My proposal will be a prime minister and no more than 12 ministers. In other words, for this to be the smallest government in our history, but made up of hard-working, diligent, energetic people, people capable of taking responsibility, and people who understand that they will be there not to enjoy themselves, but to work in the interests of citizens. So that will be my promise to the citizens, and I will sign it. (…) We need a government that is fast, efficient and strong. Today, people, gas is $880 per 1,000 cubic metres. Oil prices today are completely abnormal, completely abnormal. And the conflict between America and Iran is continuing, the conflict in Ukraine is continuing. Things will only get worse this winter. Do you really think we need someone to play games with the state and bring in incompetent people? Imagine Šoškić being the person who is supposed to run our finances tomorrow, or the National Bank, or the government, or anything else. Actions speak louder than words.”
A few days later, on September 9, following a proposal submitted by the Serbian government, Vučić signed a decree dissolving the Serbian Parliament and called snap parliamentary elections for October 25.
Given that in April he justified rejecting calls for snap parliamentary elections by saying that the country would “face the biggest global crisis we have ever seen” and that elections would only be held during the summer if he “saw peace taking shape,” while in September, just a few months later, he nevertheless called elections despite continuing to speak about major problems stemming from the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, as well as potential new conflicts that “extremely concern” him, predicting that “things will only get worse” in winter, we conclude that the Serbian president has been inconsistent.
