Serbian Prime Minister Macut Proposes Dissolving Parliament

Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut has proposed dissolving parliament as the first step toward early parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a special cabinet session, Macut said the government should ask President Aleksandar Vucic to dissolve the legislature and call a parliamentary vote. He described taking office during one of Serbia’s most difficult political and social periods in recent years.

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Serbia was faced with protests, blockades, deep divisions, education problems and huge pressure on institutions.

“Serbia was faced with protests, blockades, deep divisions, education problems and huge pressure on institutions,” Macut said. He added that the government’s main mission was “maintaining state stability, securing institutions and preventing Serbia from stopping.”

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Maintaining state stability, securing institutions and preventing Serbia from stopping.

Macut said the government had invested significant effort in improving the election process. He said it had considered the positions of all political actors and recommendations from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, known as ODIHR. In his view, there was no reason to avoid improving the process or testing the will of voters.

“A responsible government does not ignore demands for early elections,” he said. Vucic previously said the vote would take place on October 18 or 25, with the election call due no later than September 9 or 10. Serbian law requires the president to call parliamentary elections between 45 and 60 days before voting day.

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A responsible government does not ignore demands for early elections.