In anticipation of early elections, I propose that President Vučić also resign, allowing both parliamentary and presidential elections to be held on the same day, before year’s end
Serbia has been mired in a profound sociopolitical crisis for more than six months. Following the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station and the tragic deaths of 16 people, students across the country brought the work of many colleges to a halt, demanding justice and accountability. When Serbia’s prime minister resigned in late January, the mandate of his government formally ended, and the political crisis deepened. The country looked to the formation of a new government and the appointment of a new prime minister who would demonstrate a willingness to lead Serbia out of this crisis.
However, Serbia has not been given a government capable of fulfilling that role. Dr Đuro Macut may well be a respected figure within his academic field, but he does not command the kind of authority within Serbian society that is necessary to help bridge its deep divisions and guide it towards a resolution. From the moment it became evident that Dr Macut was to take on a more prominent political role, it was immediately clear that his work would remain overshadowed by the authority of the President of the Republic. His address to MPs in presenting his exposé in the National Assembly only confirmed this perception.
At this critical juncture, Serbia needed a prime ministerial candidate with the integrity and independence to rise above party divisions – and even above the influence of the president – but that’s not what we received
At this critical juncture, Serbia needed a prime ministerial candidate with the integrity and independence to rise above party divisions – and even above the influence of the president – to guide society towards reconciliation and full transparency and accountability regarding the Novi Sad tragedy. Đuro Macut is not the right person for such a task. The opportunity to initiate a broad-based dialogue and steer Serbia towards stabilisation has been missed. Instead of heading towards consensus, Serbia has received a government that faces a deepening crisis – one that is, with time, drawing greater attention from the country’s international partners.
The prevailing sentiment is that the Macut government will be short-lived. It is quite possible that Serbia will head to the polls again by autumn. Should that happen, I propose that President Vučić also tender his resignation, allowing for both parliamentary and presidential elections to be held on the same day, prior to the end of this year. The situation we are now facing calls for a renewed mandate across all key political institutions. Anyone resisting such a move would, in effect, be signalling a fear of the electorate’s will. And anyone calling for a boycott on the grounds of unfair electoral conditions would be admitting that they are not yet ready for the contest.
