Opposition Rep Djilas Requests Holding of New Local Elections in Belgrade  

Dragan Djilas (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

After meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the afternoon on April 11, Freedom and Justice Party leader Dragan Djilas said that the talks were difficult and that he insisted on holding new local elections in Belgrade to ensure formation of legitimate city administration. Vucic, according to Djilas, said he would announce his decision by the end of this week.  

In the evening on April 11, Djilas said that Vucic and he did not agree on a number of issues, but that both shared the opinion that great challenges were ahead for Serbia and that it was important for every government to have legitimacy and legality.

Djilas stressed that only new elections could solve the current political crisis, noting that he saw no other solution.

The Freedom and Justice party leader further said that his coalition would continue filing election complaints and would seek justice before the Administrative Court. He added that even if all complaints were accepted, certain opposition parties could still decide to “deflect” to join the ranks of the incumbent authorities.

Speaking to reporters outside the Presidency, Djilas said that if some opposition parties “deflected,” the city administration could be formed, but it would not be legitimate, meaning that new elections under better conditions would be required by the end of the year.  

Djilas also told reporters that other matters were not on the table.