In Serbia, rule of law and media freedom further declined, while political polarization intensified. President Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party dominate the political system, effectively controlling government, parliament and the judiciary despite the president’s largely ceremonial constitutional role. The regime’s manipulation of elections has intensified, leading to opposition boycotts. Parliamentary oversight is weak as it primarily approves legislation in line with the president’s will, while the opposition remains fragmented and under constant pressure. Civil society and independent media face systematic harassment, including smear campaigns, strategic lawsuits and surveillance, while mass protests in 2024–2025 were delegitimized as foreign-backed destabilization efforts.
After major external shocks, Serbia’s economy stabilized, driven largely by public spending. Inflation fell sharply by 2024, public debt declined, and growth resumed. However, poverty and inequality remain among the highest in Europe, state involvement in the economy is substantial, and structural social disparities persist.
Governance remains highly centralized and personalized. Policy-making serves political consolidation, and international cooperation stagnates, with EU accession stalled and economic ties with China gaining importance. There is no political will to prosecute corruption as a culture of impunity prevails in government and public administration.
