Accessibility links

Breaking News

Serbia Sets Presidential Election For April 2


Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party Aleksandar Vucic is seen as a clear favorite.
Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party Aleksandar Vucic is seen as a clear favorite.

Serbia will hold a presidential election on April 2, with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic seen as a clear favorite against an opposition in disarray.

The voting date, announced by parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic on March 2, would mean a runoff on April 16 if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in the initial round.

None of the opposition candidates -- expected to include former Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, ultranationalist Vojislav Seselj, and former Serbian ombudsman Sasa Jankovic -- is currently considered likely to present a major challenge to Vucic.

Serbia's constitution gives the president only limited powers, and incumbent Tomislav Nikolic is seen by many as a marginalized figure in the Balkan country's politics.

Vucic, a 46-year-old lawyer who is popular at home and has experience dealing with Serbia's international partners, could seek to change that.

As prime minister, Vucic has maintained a balancing act between Moscow and Brussels, but has been assertive in implementing a European agenda and is seen by EU leaders as a reliable partner.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG