President Vučić is confronting the most significant threat to his leadership

With mass protests erupting, President Aleksandar Vučić is confronting the most significant threat to his leadership in Serbia.
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The unfolding situation is set to capture attention in both Washington and Moscow. For years, Vučić has skillfully navigated the delicate position of the Balkan nation amid the influences of the US, Russia, China, and the European Union. He has commended former President Donald Trump for diminishing USAID's role while simultaneously seeking increased supplies of Russian gas from Vladimir Putin. Last week, he hosted Donald Trump Jr., even as his administration faces a pressing deadline to address the Russian ownership of the country's oil refiner, NIS, which is under US sanctions due to its ties with Gazprom. In an interview at his office in Belgrade on October 29, President Vučić addressed these complexities. Meanwhile, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has plans to construct a luxury hotel in central Belgrade. As Trump and Putin prepare to discuss a ceasefire regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Serbia exemplifies the intricate interplay of modern geopolitical forces.
Not a valid attachment ID. The situation intensified last weekend, with hundreds of thousands gathering in Belgrade for a protest that culminated months of demands for action against corruption, misconduct, and inefficiencies in government institutions. The catalyst for this unrest was the tragic death of 15 people due to a canopy collapse at a renovated train station in a northern city last November.
More than a dozen officials have faced criminal charges, and Miloš Vučević, a close ally of Vučić, resigned as prime minister in January. Despite the outrage, the protests have continued. Vučić, who often touts the significant growth of Serbia's economy during his administration, has offered to call early elections, while suggesting that foreign influence is seeking to provoke a "color revolution" similar to those in post-Soviet nations. Should Vučić fall from power or be significantly weakened, there is no clear successor capable of preserving the delicate geopolitical balance in the country. Given the region's tumultuous history, any political upheaval could lead to far-reaching consequences. — Misha Savic and Irina Vilcu.
Source@Bloomberg

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