Serbia has voted for a change of government less than seven months before Expo 2027 Belgrade opens. In the snap parliamentary election on Sunday, 25 October, the opposition "Studentska lista" (Student List) won a clear majority, and Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat the same evening. For every company working on the Expo site in Surčin, or hoping to, the obvious question is what happens to the project now.
The short answer, based on what the winners have said so far: Expo 2027 is not being called off, but the money behind it is going to be looked at much more closely.
The result in numbers
According to preliminary figures from the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK), with 8,135 of 8,392 polling stations processed, the Student List took 52.65% of the vote against 39.22% for "Aleksandar Vučić – Ujedinjena Srbija". Turnout was 68.81%. The IPSOS/CeSID projection gives the Student List around 140 of the 250 seats in parliament and Vučić's list about 103. Smaller parties such as Ivica Dačić's list appear to have fallen below the 3% threshold, while several national minority lists won a few seats.
These are not final results, and no new government has been formed yet. Until it is, the outgoing government stays in charge, and so does the current management of the state company Expo 2027 d.o.o.
What the Student List says about Expo 2027
The question of the Expo came up immediately. Professor Ilija Srdanović, who headed the Student List, said on 26 October that the Expo is an intergovernmental project for which Serbia has given guarantees. "We will align everything necessary with the international obligations we have taken on," he said, as reported by Telegraf Biznis.
He also made clear that the Expo is not a centrepiece of the movement's programme. The real question, in his words, is whether citizens of Serbia can actually benefit from the project, and the focus will be on building institutions able to check transparently how public money is spent.
That fits the 11-point plan the list published after the vote. It does not mention the Expo by name, but its third point is directly relevant: publication of all public contracts and tenders, a stronger State Audit Institution, and an audit of past infrastructure projects that were non-transparent or overpriced.
Before the election, opinions inside the wider opposition camp were divided. Some commentators openly called for the Expo to be cancelled, while Student List candidates quoted by Danas in September preferred an independent audit and transparent procurement over a decision made in advance.
Why cancellation is unlikely
The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which governs world and specialised Expos, has already spelled out the cost of walking away. In written answers to Forbes Srbija in September, it said Expo obligations "are obligations of the host country, regardless of changes of government". If Serbia withdrew, the organiser would have to compensate participating countries for their justified costs and cover the BIE's costs, and the country would lose its status as host. The BIE also warned of damage to trust in Serbia's future international commitments.
With pavilions already being handed over to participating countries and contracts signed for everything from security equipment to laundry, stopping now would be expensive. That is presumably why the new majority is talking about oversight rather than cancellation. Still, until a government is formed and states its policy formally, nothing should be treated as settled.
What it means for contractors, decorators and venues
Signed contracts remain valid. Agreements already concluded under public procurement rules are legal obligations of Expo 2027 d.o.o., regardless of who is in government.
Expect more transparency, and more questions. If the plan to publish all contracts goes ahead, prices, subcontractors and contract amendments will become visible to the public. Companies should make sure their paperwork, invoices and change orders are in order and could survive an audit.
Watch the transition period. A change of government usually means new ministers, possibly new management at state companies, and a period of review. That can slow down new tenders, approvals or payments for a few weeks, at exactly the moment the Expo timetable is tightest. Firms with cash-flow exposure to Expo work should plan for some delay.
Private and international clients are less affected. Work for foreign participants fitting out their own pavilions, or for corporate side events in Belgrade, depends far less on domestic politics. For decorators, stand builders and venue owners, that segment may be the steadier part of the Expo market over the coming months.
This article is a summary of public statements and does not constitute legal advice. We will follow how the new majority's position on Expo 2027 develops once a government is formed.
Sources
- politika.telegraf.rs
- www.euronews.com
- biznis.telegraf.rs
- una.rs
- mondo.rs
- forbes.n1info.rs
- www.danas.rs
Photo: Anton Borzenkov / Unsplash licence / source
