Serbia: SPS announces independent election run as Vučić pledges industrial investment

Serbian elections SPS independence Yumko factory election integrity Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency

In Serbia, political tensions are rising ahead of parliamentary elections following the announcement that the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) will run independently. President Aleksandar Vučić responded by stating that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) must now secure its own majority to continue state projects, though SPS leader Ivica Dačić indicated interest in continuing a coalition with the SNS after the elections.

Election integrity is a growing concern. Student protesters have criticized the Republic Electoral Commission's (RIK) plan to introduce new voting booths, claiming the changes could facilitate voter pressure and ballot tampering. Vučić defended the move, stating the new equipment follows recommendations from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR).

During a visit to the Toplica District, Vučić also addressed economic and military matters. He pledged that the state would not close the Yumko factory in Rača, promising investments in new machinery, higher wages, and job creation. Additionally, he claimed the Serbian military is on track to soon possess 40 fighter jets, a significant increase from the single aircraft available twelve years ago.

Entities

Aleksandar Vučić · Ivica Dačić · Serbia · Serbian Progressive Party · Socialist Party of Serbia · Yumko

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] President Vučić announced that the state will not close the Yumko factory in Rača and will invest in new equipment and wages. resetka.rs · biznis.rs · www.sd.rs
[● 3 SOURCES] Aleksandar Vučić stated that the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) will run independently in the upcoming parliamentary elections. savremenapolitika.com · novosadska.tv · studiob.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] Vučić claimed the Serbian military will soon possess 40 fighter jets, compared to only one twelve years ago. jugmedia.rs
[● 3 SOURCES] The RIK plans to introduce new screens at polling stations, a move Vučić says follows ODIHR recommendations.
[● 3 SOURCES] Vučić noted that the SPS decision signals that the SNS must secure its own majority to continue important state projects. savremenapolitika.com · novosadska.tv · studiob.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] SPS leader Ivica Dačić expressed interest in continuing the coalition with the SNS following the elections. naslovi.net
[● 2 SOURCES] Slobodan Cvejić of the SRCE party criticized the high media presence of President Vučić as a sign of an irregular election campaign. sandzacke.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] An NDI survey shows Darijana Filipović leading among Croat voters for the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. n24.ba