The President of Serbia’s Constitutional Court, Vladan Petrov, stated that the court may ultimately decide not to proceed with a case challenging the alleged irregularities in the 2023 Belgrade local elections.
The case, submitted in early 2024 by the opposition coalition Serbia Against Violence, calls for the annulment of the elections in the capital due to reported violations. According to Petrov, a preliminary report has already been prepared, but the court has not yet determined whether it will formally examine the case.
“We may work on it, or we may not,” Petrov said during an interview, suggesting that it might be more appropriate for the court to avoid addressing the matter during an election or pre-election period.
He warned that proceeding with the case could trigger “unnecessary disturbances,” emphasizing that the court should instead focus on handling potential complaints related to upcoming elections in a timely manner. Petrov also noted that the Constitutional Court has historically dismissed election-related disputes due to lack of jurisdiction.
Before assuming his current role earlier this year, Petrov served as the reporting judge on the same case. He acknowledged that the court had previously been divided over how to proceed and said he continues to reflect on the issue “every day.”
In addition, Petrov highlighted internal challenges within the institution, pointing to a shortage of qualified legal staff responsible for processing cases—an issue he pledged to address during his mandate.
When asked about the authorship of a controversial package of judicial reform laws, informally referred to as the “Mrdić laws,” Petrov said he had not pursued the matter further but suspects involvement from members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.
