The Institution of the President in the Political System of the Republic of Serbia

In: Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio M, Balcaniensis et Carpathiensis, Band 8, S. 135-150

Abstract

The institution of the President of the Republic of Serbia was established under the 2006 constitution. Previous experience of the country was limited in terms of the structure of the executive power. In 1953, the office of President of Yugoslavia was introduced in the former Yugoslavia. From 1971, the function of the head of state was performed by the collective Presidium of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), consisting of representatives of individual republics and autonomous districts (i.e. Vojvodina and Kosovo). The presidium was headed by Tito, who was president for life. After his death in 1980, the function of the chairman of the Presidium was held by representatives of the republic on a rotating basis. The office of the President of the Republic of Serbia was introduced by the Basic Law of 1990 (still within the framework of the functioning of the Yugoslav federation). The provisions of the Constitution define the powers of the head of state, which are characteristic of parliamentary systems. The current president is also the president of a political party, which means that his prerogatives go far beyond the provisions provided for in the constitution.