Serbia’s government proposed dissolving parliament on September 7, paving the way for an early election that President Aleksandar Vucic said could be held on October 18 or 25, public broadcaster RTS reported.

Prime Minister Djuro Macut made the proposal at an extraordinary government session, saying an election would help ease tensions and return political competition from the streets to state institutions.

"Elections have never been a sign of the weakness of the state," Macut said, adding that the vote would be an opportunity to strengthen institutions.

The government proposal is a necessary step before Vucic can formally dissolve the 250-seat National Assembly and call an election. Under Serbian law, between 45 and 60 days must pass between the announcement of an election and polling day.

Vucic has said he would announce the election by September 9 or 10 at the latest.

The vote would come more than a year ahead of the next regular parliamentary election, scheduled for late 2027, and would be the first national election since student-led protests erupted after the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024 killed 16 people.

The protests, initially focused on accountability for the disaster, have grown into the biggest challenge to Vucic's rule in more than a decade. Student protest leaders are selecting candidates for a potential "Student List" to contest the election.

A June opinion poll showed 45% of decided voters backing a potential student list, compared with 36% for Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), although the students have yet to announce their candidates or a detailed policy platform.

The SNS will contest the election under the "United Serbia" name, with its main board choosing Vucic as the holder of the list and its candidate for prime minister if the alliance wins.

Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics as president or prime minister for more than a decade, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third presidential term when his current mandate expires in 2027. He has said he intends to leave the presidency and seek the premiership if his political camp wins the parliamentary election.

The ruling party retains a strong organisational advantage and significant influence over Serbia's broadcast media. It won all contested local elections in March, although its share of the vote fell.

The government has also announced measures to support household incomes ahead of the election. On August 21, it announced almost €1bn in one-off payments for pensioners, welfare recipients and other citizens.

From September 7, citizens can register for a one-off payment of RSD 6,000 (around €50), which the government has said will be paid later this month.