After the parliamentary elections in Serbia: Defense Minister Vucevic must lead the new government

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It is expected that Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic (49) will become the new Prime Minister. More than three months after the parliamentary elections won by his Progressive Party (SNS), President Aleksandar Vucic (54) has instructed his good party friend Vucevic to form a government. Vucic announced this on Instagram on Saturday. Vucevic must replace former government leader Ana Brnabic (48).

Observers expect smooth elections for Vucevic because his party has a comfortable majority in parliament. The 49-year-old lawyer has been Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense since 2022. In May 2023, he was also elected chairman of the Progress Party (SNS), replacing Vucic at the top of the party. However, no one in Serbia doubts that Vucic remains the informal and sole center of power in the country – although formally as head of state he has more protocol-related powers. Since 2012, he has determined the fate of the country in varying roles.

Good relations with Russia and China

Critics accuse Vucic of an authoritarian style of government. According to them, he abuses the government apparatus, the police and the secret services to economically ruin and publicly discredit political competitors.

In the early parliamentary elections on December 17, 2023, the SNS received approximately 47 percent of the votes. The liberal opposition alliance ‘Serbia Against Violence’ became the second strongest force with around 23 percent of the vote. The elections were accompanied by accusations of fraud by the opposition. The OSCE also complained that the conditions of the vote were not fair.

Serbia has been negotiating EU accession since 2014, but the talks have been slow. At the same time, Vucic maintains good relations with Russia and China. (SDA)

Source: Blick