The New Democratic Party of Serbia (New DSS) has sharply criticized the Serbian government’s proposed 2026 budget, calling it a continuation of destructive economic policies under Aleksandar Vučić and demanding that the “harmful regime” be urgently replaced.
According to the party, the budget confirms that the government’s approach—based on excessive borrowing, overpriced projects, and incentives for foreign investors—is failing ordinary citizens.
“The budget shows that GDP growth projections continue to shrink as a consequence of the deep crisis in the country. Instead of the projected 4.2 percent growth, the government now predicts 2.3 percent in 2026 and just three percent in 2027,” the New DSS stated.
The party also highlighted the soaring costs of servicing debt:
“Interest payments continue to rise, with 212 billion dinars allocated for this year alone. Before Vučić and the SNS came to power, this figure was around 40 billion dinars. This government is mortgaging the future of Serbia for years to come.”
New DSS criticized the government’s so-called “investments of special importance,” which largely benefit foreign investors while ordinary citizens suffer:
“For these projects, the government plans to spend 23.4 billion dinars in 2026. Yet in the south of Serbia, several factories have closed over the past year, leaving hundreds of workers unemployed. Where is the benefit for the Serbian people?”
The party also called out outrageous spending on vanity projects, including the National Stadium, which will now cost 16.4 billion dinars in 2027 and 7.2 billion dinars in 2028—years after the government claimed it would be completed.
“How can the regime promise completion by 2026 while still extending funding for years? Who will actually benefit from these inflated projects?” New DSS asked.
Energy projects are under fire as well. The construction of solar panels with battery capacities, originally estimated at 1.4 billion euros, has now ballooned to 1.9 billion euros—far above the cost of similar projects in Romania, which amount to around 1 billion euros.
“Where will the extra 500–900 million euros go? How is this mismanagement acceptable?” the party demanded.
The New DSS concluded that the budget, along with the government’s failures in domestic and foreign policy, underscores the urgent need to end Vučić’s destructive regime:
“The deep social and political crisis, combined with economic mismanagement, makes it clear: Aleksandar Vučić’s harmful government must be replaced without delay.”
