The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) is signaling a potentially more independent electoral strategy after party leader Ivica Dačić announced that the party will contest the next elections on its own.
Dačić said the SPS would run independently, a move that Vice President Branko Ružić described as a “good first step” and one that he said reflects the prevailing view among party members and supporters.
“President of the SPS has announced this, and I see it as a good first step, given that this is also the majority position of the party membership and supporters,” Ružić said.
However, Ružić added that a “second step” would be more complicated and would require careful consideration of how the party should participate in the elections.
“The second step is certainly more complex and, in my personal opinion, requires thoughtful consideration of the model of participation in the elections,” he said.
His remarks have prompted questions about what the SPS intends to do beyond running independently, including whether the party is seeking to strengthen its separate political identity or could consider new electoral or post-election arrangements.
The comments have also fueled speculation about whether the SPS could distance itself further from President Aleksandar Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), with some observers raising the possibility of cooperation with opposition forces.
Ružić, however, did not announce any cooperation with opposition parties or groups associated with the student-led protests, and there is currently no confirmation that such an alliance is being considered.
An independent electoral campaign could instead allow the SPS to assess its own political strength and negotiate from a stronger position after the vote.
The SPS has been a longstanding coalition partner of Vučić’s political camp, making Dačić’s announcement and Ružić’s comments significant for the configuration of Serbia’s political scene ahead of the next elections.
For now, the party’s position appears to be limited to a decision to contest the elections independently, while the nature of any subsequent alliances or political arrangements remains unclear.
