Local elections in Serbia marred by violence, irregularities, intimidation
President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, declared victory for the coalition gathered around the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), of which he is a member and former leader, in all 10 municipalities and cities where regular local elections were held, marked by numerous incidents and irregularities.
Just under 250,000 voters were eligible to cast their ballots, CE Report quotes FENA.
Voting took place in Aranđelovac, Smederevska Palanka, Lučani, Knjaževac, Sevojno, Bor, Bajina Bašta, Kula, Majdanpek, and Kladovo.
Vučić told reporters that, according to preliminary results, the coalition achieved a 10–0 victory over the opposition. He said the closest races were in Kula, where the margin was 530 votes, and in Bor, where the SNS led by around 1,900 votes.
“I hope that after today, after tonight, some people will stop the campaign against everyone who thinks differently. Today we narrowly avoided a great evil. Some people were drawing guns and harassing citizens,” Vučić said at SNS headquarters in Belgrade, where he announced the results.
Ratings ranging from very poor to poor were given to election day in the 10 local self-government units in Serbia. Due to the intensity of violence in Bor, Kula, and Bajina Bašta, major problems recorded in municipalities where the situation was relatively calm were overshadowed, according to CRTA, whose observers monitored the elections in 10 cities and municipalities.
Observers reported the presence of parallel voter records everywhere, cases of compromised ballot secrecy, and organized transportation of voters, indicating possible voting under pressure. However, in light of beatings, the use of weapons, and the spread of fear, these irregularities appeared unjustifiably “less” serious, the statement said.
It added that it was particularly concerning that the police were largely unprepared to protect citizens exposed to violence or to detain perpetrators.
“It is also alarming that among those involved in violence and other illicit activities on the ground, observers and citizens recognized employees of public institutions and companies from various cities across Serbia,” the statement continued.
The election day harshly confirmed what had already been observed during the campaign period—extreme inequality among participants, the criminalization of institutions, the blatant misuse of public resources and positions, and an entrenched network of clientelism that becomes most visible during elections, the statement concluded.
