Week in Review: Tough Road Ahead

A Mixed Bag

Incumbent Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic celebrates as he presents the early results of the general elections in Belgrade, Serbia, 03 April 2022. EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

The headline-grabbing news from Serbia was that President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party had won another landslide victory in the elections held last weekend. In the race for President, Vucic had won a stomping 58.5% of the votes cast in the first round.

Yet beyond that, careful analysis of the election results turns up many more layers to this story. Vucic may have been re-elected with a huge majority, but the SNS has shed substantial votes. It no longer has an absolute majority in the Serbian Parliament, and is struggling to cling on to Belgrade. Our post-election analysis digs deeper.

Read more: Vucic's Triumph Disguises Serbian Progressives' Mixed Result (April 4, 2022)

Food (In)Security

Around 44.8% of Serbia's total area is used arable land. Photo: Bjoertvedt/Wikimedia Commons

As some of the largest grain exporters in the world, Ukraine and Russia have long served as the 'bread basket' of much of the world. Yet the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens to disrupt an important part of the world's food supply.

Fears regarding the knock on effect of the war in Ukraine on food prices are being felt in the Balkans as well. As our analysis shows, in this region it is Serbia that is the traditional 'bread basket' - and most eyes are now glued on this country when it comes to ensuring the necessary supplies of basic staples such as wheat.

Read more: Ukraine War Threatens Food Security in Western Balkans (April 5, 2022)

Tough Job

Montenegrin Special State Prosecutor...

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