2-8 March 2024
Prime Minister Ana Brnabić to become the new parliament speaker. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on 6 March that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leadership decided to nominate Ana Brnabić, current Prime Minister, for the post of Parliament speaker. Brnabić has been the Prime Minister since 2017. The party will announce the name of Brnabić’s successor in the coming days. The next session of parliament, with the election of speaker on the agenda, is scheduled for 11 March. (Radio Free Europe (Serbian), 6 March 2024)
Opposition regards the new elections in Belgrade as a victory. The Assembly of the City of Belgrade was not constituted within the legal deadline, after the elections held on December 17 last year, thus new elections will be held. Opposition parties assessed such an outcome as a victory. “Today is a special day for all citizens of Belgrade, when after 10 years the SNS is no longer able to form the government”, said the candidate of the pro-European coalition Serbia against Violence, Vladimir Obradović. The date of the new election is still unknown, but it has to take place before early June. (Danas (Serbian), 3 March 2024)
KRIK claims former minister of interior, security service chief were involved in crime. KRIK investigative portal had access to Serbian police documents allegedly showing that a former minister of interior Nebojša Stefanović and a department head at the country’s top civilian security agency Marko Parezanović were involved with an organized crime group led by Darko Šarić, who is on trial for drug smuggling. KRIK claimed that Stefanović and Parezanović tried to influence the judiciary and Šarić case and were not investigated by the prosecution for leaking classified information and taking bribes. (KRIK (Serbian), 5 March 2024)
EU adopts joint position on Growth Plan for Western Balkans. Respecting democratic mechanisms, including free and fair elections, and honouring rule of law and fundamental rights, will be the preconditions for beneficiaries to receive support under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, reads the recently adopted joint position of European Union member countries. The joint position says that a precondition for Kosovo and Serbia is also for both to engage constructively in the normalization of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations. (RTS (Serbian), 6 March 2024)
Economy minister says 60% of FDI from EU. Economy Minister Slobodan Cvetković told the Kopaonik Business Forum that 60% of the Foreign Direct Investments in the country are from the European Union. “Geography is a very important parameter in Serbia-EU trade. We are practically an integral part of the EU,” Cvetković said. (N1 Belgrade, 5 March 2024)
