17-23 February 2024
Split between Branimir Nestorović and other co-founders of the “WE – The Voice for the People” movement, majority in Belgrade uncertain. Nestorović, the most prominent member of the right-wing populist movement, has left it over disagreements with other co-founders. The movement was founded shortly before the December 2023 elections and managed to cross the threshold both nationally and in Belgrade. Both Nestorović and the remaining co-founders of “WE – The Voice for the People” have announced the formation of political parties, and said they would not support the Serbian Progressive Party in the Belgrade City Assembly. According to SNS, if they do not get the support of the entire movement in Belgrade, new local election will take place. (Politika (Serbian), 21 February 2024)
PM Brnabić: We will not accept international investigation into elections. Outgoing Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić said the government will not accept an international investigation into the December elections, because that would be a “humiliation of the country and a loss of sovereignty.” Brnabić added that the government will continue cooperating with the ODIHR, but that “an international investigation would be a direct breach of Serbia’s sovereignty.” An investigation has been demanded by the opposition and the recent resolution of the European Parliament. (Al Jazeera (Serbian), 21 February 2024)
Vučić to start consulations to form new government. President Aleksandar Vučić said that he would start consultations with parliamentary parties to form a new government early next week. He said he would decide who to name Prime Minister designate after the consulations. “I am sure we can do that relatively quickly and efficiently,” he added. SNS has won an outright majority of 129 seats in the 2023 parliamentary election. (RTS (Serbian), 20 February 2024)
Long lines in north Kosovo to withdraw limited cash. Kosovo Serbs are waiting in long lines day by day to get small amounts of cash in Serbian Dinars from the Post Office Savings Bank. People in the north of Kosovo can withdraw just 10.000 Dinars (about 85 Euro) and Dinars are no longer available in southern Serb enclaves, forcing some Serbs to travel to towns in Serbia proper to withdraw money from their accounts. The Central Bank of Kosovo decreed in mid-January that the Euro would be the only legal currency in Kosovo as of 1 February, effectively banning the Serbian Dinar. (Insajder (Serbian), 22 February 2024)
Three Chinese companies still Serbia’s biggest exporters. Serbia’s biggest exporters in 2023 were three companies owned by Chinese companies – Zijin Mining, Zijin Copper and the HBIS Group, said the Serbian Ministry of Finance. The exports of Zijin Mining from Brestovac amounted to 1.15 billion, of Bor-based Zijin Copper to 746.3 million euros, while the HBIS Group, the owner of the Smederevo Steel Mill, had exports worth 549.1 million euros. (N1 Belgrade, 22 February 2024)