Serbia’s government has proposed dissolving parliament, clearing the way for an early election that President Aleksandar Vucic has said could be held on October 18 or 25. Prime Minister Djuro Macut announced the proposal in Belgrade as the country faces nearly two years of student-led anti-government protests following the November 2024 collapse of a railway-station canopy in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party nominated him to run for prime minister, making the election a test of his political standing after 12 years as president or prime minister. The constitution requires 45 to 60 days for campaigning. Opposition groups and demonstrators accuse Vucic and his allies of violence, corruption, organized-crime ties and restrictions on media freedom, allegations they deny. The protests and stalled European Union accession bid have added pressure on Vucic, who has maintained close relations with Russia and China.