Serbia

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Belgrade on Tuesday (7 May) has raised eyebrows at a time when Serbia’s President Aleksander Vučić has continued to resist increasing pressure to align foreign policy with the West, in particular the EU. … Beijing has become Belgrade’s second-largest trading partner, and by 2021, Chinese imports into Serbia were worth €3.6 billion (up 26.9% in 2020), even though the EU still accounts for 60% of the country’s trade.

Serbian Prime Minister-designate Milos Vucevic announced on Tuesday that Aleksandar Vulin, the US-sanctioned, pro-Russian former head of Serbia’s Security Information Agency, will be one of the deputy prime ministers in his new cabinet.

Parliament Speaker of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, called local elections for councilors of city assemblies and municipal assemblies in the Republic of Serbia. 

Serbia and France have reached agreement on Belgrade buying 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets, President Aleksandar Vucic said, a move that will lead to a substantial modernization of the Western Balkan state's air force. … Serbia has stepped up defense cooperation with France in recent years.

Repeat elections for Belgrade set for June 2 after opposition and ruling parties fail to reach deal on holding local elections on same day as polls in capital.

Serbia's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) said it will rerun the December 17 Belgrade municipal elections, a vote marred by widespread allegations of fraud and irregularities.

International observers on Wednesday (28 February) denounced “unjust” conditions that allowed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s party to romp to a controversial landslide victory in December elections. Yet the government welcomed the report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), saying it has put an end to speculations about alleged electoral fraud.

Elections in Serbia on 17 December 2023 were not held in just conditions, according to MEPs, who call for an independent investigation into the irregularities.

Serbia and China have established an Association for Promotion of the Economy, Trade, Culture and Tourism. This association has been formed in line with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and Serbia is committed to global development initiatives started by China, Serbian Culture Minister Maja Gojkovic said at the opening ceremony.

Full election results on January 3 handed Serbia's ruling party a major victory in the parliamentary and local votes held on December 17, amid demonstrations that triggered thousands to protest alleged fraud.