MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic signed a decree on Friday on the dissolution of the parliament and the decision to call early parliamentary elections on April 24, local media reported.
"The time has come to test support, because reforms are serious and difficult and therefore it is necessary for citizens to express their opinion," the president was quoted by the Blic news portal as saying.
Nikolic also said he expected fair, democratic elections, as well as proper functioning of all the state institutions. He also expressed hope that state reforms started in 2014 would be successfully completed.
The much-anticipated decree follows Belgrade’s recent deal with NATO on cooperation, signed on February 19, which became a topic for discussion within Serbia and caused a series of protests across the country, as well as calls for a referendum on the issue.
