The Constitutional Status of the President in Serbia’s Parliamentary System

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify the specific features of the President’s legal position and to assess his role in the system of separation of powers in a post-socialist state. The methodology is based on a combination of formal-legal, comparative-legal, historical, and systemic analysis, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of constitutional provisions and their practical implications. The study demonstrates that, despite the formal classification of Serbia as a parliamentary republic, the President occupies a special constitutional position that goes beyond the traditional functions of a head of state in classical parliamentary systems. It is established that the direct election of the President, the absence of a countersignature requirement, and the presence of significant powers in the legislative, executive, and defense spheres contribute to strengthening his institutional role. At the same time, the implementation of these powers is substantially influenced by political factors, including the alignment of political forces and the relationship between the President and the parliamentary majority. The article concludes that the President of the Republic of Serbia functions as a key element of the system of checks and balances, combining representative and substantive powers, which reflects the hybrid nature of post-socialist constitutional models.