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City assembly schedules vote on Belgrade mayor's dismissal

Belgrade’s city assembly will meet tomorrow to decide whether to sack Mayor Aleksandar Šapić. The session follows a period of mounting friction between the vice-president of the ruling SNS and an opposition that has spent months testing the limits of the capital's patience. While the mayor’s job is on the line, the city’s utilities are on the brink; public companies now owe suppliers 30 billion dinars, a debt that suggests the municipal accounts are failing as fast as the infrastructure.

The national election campaign has reached the stage of walking columns and mathematical certainties. Students from Western Serbia are marching on the capital for a final rally next week, while President Aleksandar Vučić predicts he will win by half a million votes. To ensure the margin, the government is accused of making it difficult for the diaspora to vote, with some polling stations reportedly arranged so that citizens abroad would have to cast ballots in the middle of the night.

The presidency is also facing questions over a list of recent pardons that remains a secret. Prosecutors are asking whether the clemency was a tool of justice or a method for repaying debts to party associates. It is a busy season for those in power: the president of the journalists' association claims the government’s deadline for the final elimination of free media is October 25th.

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Belgrade Mayor Faces Dismissal Vote

A session of the Belgrade City Assembly has been scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, to discuss the dismissal of Mayor Aleksandar Šapić. Savo Manojlović, a lawyer, activist, and politician who is a member of the City Assembly of Belgrade and leader of the Kreni-Promeni political organization, made the announcement. Šapić, who is also a vice-president of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), was re-elected as mayor in June 2024.

Students March to Belgrade Ahead of Final Rally

Students from Western Serbia are organizing three walking columns to Belgrade for the final rally of the Student List, which is scheduled for October 22nd at Slavija. This action is part of the ongoing election campaign, where the Student Movement has emerged as a significant challenger to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.

Prosecutor Questions Vučić's Pardons, Identities Remain Secret

Radovan Lazić, a prosecutor of the Appellate Court in Novi Sad, has raised questions about President Aleksandar Vučić's recent pardons, asking if they represent a repayment of debts to party collaborators. The identities of those pardoned over two weeks ago remain a secret, leading to further scrutiny and speculation about potential links to the 'canopy incident' and other cases.

Government Accused of Obstructing Diaspora Votes

The Serbian government is accused of taking measures to obstruct diaspora voters from participating in elections. Reports detail experiences of individuals facing difficulties, including limited polling stations and being forced to cast ballots in the middle of the night, suggesting a fear of diaspora votes.

Vučić Predicts Decisive Victory, Criticizes Student List

Aleksandar Vučić, former President of Serbia and current prime ministerial candidate for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), expressed strong confidence in winning the upcoming elections by a margin of 500,000 votes, predicting a 'shock' for opposition voters. He also stated that the Student List would lose decisively due to their campaign focus on him, and accused NGOs of active participation in the campaign.

SPS Officials Signal Political Departures and New Parties

Former high-ranking Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) official Ivan Đoković announced his departure from the party, criticizing its leader, Ivica Dačić, for allegedly transforming it into a financially troubled business entity. This follows Branko Ružić, a former Minister of Education and recently expelled SPS member, signaling an alternative for dissatisfied SPS voters, suggesting the formation of a new party.

Real Estate Market Sees High Prices for Old, New Apartments

A report indicates that older apartments in Belgrade are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Simultaneously, new constructions in the capital are being priced around 2,000 euros per square meter, with detailed price information available across various locations.

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