Milivojevic: Parliamentary Elections after Belgrade Local Vote

Elections in Serbia (BetaPhoto/Milos Miskov)

The political scientist Cvijetin Milivojevic said on June 5 that the opposition should not participate in a snap parliamentary election most likely to be called on June 8, according to announcements.

Milivojevic told BETA that the regime should first meet the demands of the Serbia against Violence protesters and call an extraordinary election in Belgrade, which Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic promised to Freedom and Justice Party leader Dragan Djilas last year.

"Vucic has not met the demands of the people's protests. MPs from the ruling majority are using the Serbian parliament, which is discussing how to stop violence, to promote violence with their rhetoric. It's all looking like a prelude to disbanding the parliament and calling an early election," Milivojevic said.

He added that the readiness of Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic to resign and the calling of a "historic session" of the Serbian government for June 8 herald a snap parliamentary vote.

"Not one serious party in the opposition is calling for extraordinary parliamentary elections. The opposition is demanding the fulfillment of citizens' demands before any dialogue with the regime, while Vucic aggressively calls for a dialogue no-one is asking for," Milivojevic said.

Asked why it was important to call only a Belgrade election, Milivojevic said the opposition was certain to win that vote and that it would pave the way for a dialogue between the regime and opposition on creating a level playing field for all who run in the parliamentary election.