Serbian President Vučić Announces Early Pension Payments as Political Tension Rises

President Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia will start disbursing pensions, social benefits and veteran allowances earlier than planned, beginning in early September, to support families before the summer ends. He highlighted that state revenues in June exceeded expectations, keeping the public debt below the EU average and allowing the government to maintain a fiscal buffer.

At the same time, European Parliament member Tonino Picula warned that Serbia is entering a more volatile period. He noted that the country has been under an undeclared state of emergency for a year and a half following a railway station collapse that killed 16 people, and that violence and political polarization have increased. Picula described a weakening of democratic institutions and warned that upcoming elections are being campaigned for before they are officially called, raising concerns about Serbia’s EU accession prospects.