Brnabic Cites December 27 Deadline for Presidential Vote

Ana Brnabic, Acting President of the Republic of Serbia, held a press conference at the Presidency on October 30 and named December 27 as the date by which presidential elections will be held. The outlets that covered her remarks describe that deadline differently: some tie it to calling the election, others to holding the vote. Brnabic also urged institutions to be formed quickly, and she did not answer questions about pardons.

What did she say about the presidential election deadline?

According to Espreso, Brnabic told reporters that, in line with the Constitution, presidential elections will be called no later than December 27. Mondo reports her words the same way: the elections would be called by that date, and if institutions are formed quickly, someone else will take over as acting president.

Insajder reads the same date differently. That outlet writes that she said the elections will be held no later than December 27, and adds its own conclusion that they would then have to be called by November 27. None of the three sources carries a verbatim quote that mentions the date itself, so it is not possible to say which reading is correct. The only word-for-word answer on the subject was recorded by Insajder, when its reporter asked her about the elections:

“I hope someone else calls them. I hope that at least parliament will be formed by then.”

Asked when she would convene the National Assembly once the final results of the parliamentary elections are declared, Brnabic answered, as Insajder reports: “As soon as possible.” She gave no specific date.

A call for calm and for forming institutions

Brnabic opened the conference by explaining why she had called it. As Espreso reports, she said:

“I have called this press conference as Acting President of the Republic of Serbia in order to once again call, from this place, for reason, for peace, for respect for the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Serbia, for respect for the institutions of this country that were built over centuries, and finally, to call for basic human decency and respect for the dignity of every person in this country.”

She described events since election night on October 25 in these words: “What we have witnessed since election night is unacceptable and must not continue.” She added: “Some were responsible even in defeat, some were irresponsible even in victory, but I call on everyone to keep the peace.”

She urged the newly elected parliamentary majority to form the organs of government as soon as possible, and Mondo adds that she said the new opposition would not create problems or obstruct that work. The same outlet carries her statement:

“Quickly forming institutions is the most important thing at this moment, so that those who won the elections take responsibility for how people live in this country, and if the harassment of citizens and terror against citizens and disregard for the law and the Constitution continue, then we will all know who is responsible.”

Portal 021 also reports that the new authorities were called on to form the organs of government first, “and then remove people in accordance with the law.” According to Mondo, this is her first public address since the snap parliamentary elections on October 25.

Questions about pardons went unanswered

Insajder asked about the pardons and amnesties the former president had spoken of, namely who was pardoned and to whom the pardon and amnesty decisions were sent. Brnabic replied that she hopes institutions will soon be formed and a new president of Serbia elected, and then said:

“That is not something I should be talking about.”

When the reporter asked whether she knows who is on that list, she did not name anyone. She said: “I have answered that question, you do not need to harass me.”

The pardon issue is not new. Our newsroom reported on October 20 that the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office had unofficially dismissed a criminal complaint against Aleksandar Vucic over the pardoning of 49 people.