Aleksandar Vulin, leader of the Movement of Socialists, has announced his candidacy for the presidency of Serbia, adding a new political dimension to the country’s forthcoming electoral cycle.
Vulin announced his presidential bid at a party gathering on Monday evening, while also calling on members of his Movement of Socialists to support the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) list in the October 25 parliamentary elections.
According to Radar/Nova, Vulin’s announcement comes after an unsuccessful attempt to include him on an electoral list associated with politician Branimir Nestorović. The outlet interprets his new presidential bid as a possible way for Vulin to maintain a prominent political role while also appealing to voters with strongly pro-Russian positions.
Vulin has long maintained close political ties with Aleksandar Vučić. During the SNS-led period of government, he held several senior positions, including interior minister, defense minister and director of Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA).
The Radar/Nova analysis also recalls that Vulin was placed under U.S. sanctions in July 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department accused him of involvement in activities including international organized crime, drug trafficking and abuse of public office. Following the sanctions, Vulin stepped down from several public positions.
He subsequently remained president of the Supervisory Board of public gas company Srbijagas and a senator of the Republika Srpska.
Vulin has also been one of the Serbian political figures most openly associated with closer relations with Moscow. He has opposed the introduction of sanctions against Russia and has advocated stronger ties between Serbia and Russia.
At Monday’s gathering, Vulin called on supporters of his party to vote for the SNS-led list while announcing his own presidential candidacy. Radar/Nova noted that major pro-government media outlets did not immediately give the announcement prominent coverage, interpreting this as an indication that Vulin’s candidacy does not necessarily have the backing of Vučić.
The outlet also points to Vulin’s stated positions on Serbia’s relationship with the European Union and Russia. Vulin has advocated holding a referendum on Serbia’s EU membership and has argued that Serbia should maintain close relations with Moscow.
Serbia’s presidential election is conducted in two rounds if no candidate secures the required majority in the first round. Against this backdrop, Radar/Nova argues that Vulin’s candidacy could affect the distribution of votes among candidates, although the ultimate significance of his bid will depend on the field of candidates and the election results.
Vulin’s announcement adds another potential candidate to an increasingly important political contest, while his simultaneous support for the SNS parliamentary list highlights the continued political relationship between his movement and Vučić’s ruling party.
