Serbia votes as strongman Vučić faces grassroots challenge to 12-year rule – Europe live

Serbia votes as strongman Vučić faces grassroots challenge to 12-year rule

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Serbia's former president and now prime ministerial candidate Aleksandar Vučić rose to prominence in the 1990s as a radical nationalist, who supported the policies of Serbian expansion and ethnic cleansing led by Slobodan Milošević, who died of a heart attack in detention in The Hague during his trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

He served as Milošević’s information minister throughout the Kosovo conflict. His Serbian Progressive Party, or SNS, has been in government since 2012. He first spent three years as the prime minister from 2014, before switching to the role of the president in 2017. Unable to run for the third term, he resigned from the post in September, and now wants to lead the government again.

As president, Vučić has not emulated his predecessor’s militarism, but he has maintained his nationalist playbook in domestic politics, dismissing the opposition as stooges of unspecified foreign powers. He maintained this stance throughout his presidency, which has been marked by a 12-year rule.

The Guardian reports that Vučić's return to politics has been met with protests from students and other grassroots groups, who are challenging his authoritarian rule. The election is seen as a crucial test of Vučić's grip on power, with many expecting a close contest between his party and the opposition.

The Guardian notes that Vučić's past actions, including his support for ethnic cleansing and his role in the Kosovo conflict, have been widely criticized by human rights groups and international observers.

Vučić's return to politics has sparked concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarianism in Serbia. The election is being closely watched by international observers, who are monitoring the situation for signs of electoral irregularities or other forms of interference.

The outcome of the election is uncertain, with many predicting a close contest between Vučić's party and the opposition. The Guardian reports that the election is being seen as a crucial test of Vučić's grip on power, with many expecting a significant challenge to his 12-year rule.