President Vucic likes to let his people vote. His dominance in the country is overwhelming – even in the sixth parliamentary election in twelve years. The liberal opposition is nevertheless not without confidence.
Citizens in Serbia decided on a new parliament in early elections on Sunday. By early afternoon, 32.4 percent of those eligible to vote had cast their votes, as the electoral commission in Belgrade announced. That was 0.8 percentage points more than at the same time 17 months ago. At that time, early parliamentary elections were held together with a regular presidential election. At the end of the day, turnout for the election in April 2022 was 59 percent.
Around 6.5 million eligible voters were called on Sunday to elect the 250 members of the People’s Assembly (Skupstina). President Aleksandar Vucic’s right-wing national Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) was considered the clear favorite. According to recent opinion polls, she could get up to 45 percent of the vote. Together with its long-standing coalition partner, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) led by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, it is likely to remain the dominant force in the country.
According to this information, the SPS can expect nine percent of the vote. The liberal opposition alliance “Serbia Against Violence” would have a vote share of 24 percent. One or two right-wing extremist parties could also enter parliament. The parties of ethnic minorities – Hungarians, Bosniaks, Albanians, Croats – to whom the threshold of three percent does not apply can also count on parliamentary representation.
President Vucic wants to consolidate power
Vucic dissolved the last parliament after less than two years. The president, who has been determining the country’s politics in various roles since 2012, repeatedly uses early elections to ensure the loyalty of his officials and supporters. Critics accuse him of an authoritarian style of government.
According to these voices, Vucic abuses the government apparatus, police and secret services in order to economically ruin political competitors and defame them in public. At the same time, those in power around Vucic are in league with organized crime, critics allege. Physical attacks on opposition members are often carried out by thugs from this milieu.
The early election was triggered primarily by two mass shootings in May that left 18 dead, as well as conflicts in Kosovo, which has been independent since 2008. Serbia continues to claim its former province, which is now almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians, as its own.
Protest movement against Vucic government
The May shootings sparked a massive protest movement against the Vucic government. She accused the government and its media of fomenting a climate of hatred and glorification of violence. As a result, the liberal opposition joined forces to form the electoral alliance “Serbia Against Violence”. Its politicians and supporters hope to capture the capital in local elections that take place at the same time. The opposition believes that a victory in Belgrade and a better national average result than usual would herald the downfall of Vucic’s rule.
The Chamber of Deputies of the semi-autonomous northern province of Vojvodina and 65 of 197 municipal councils in the country, including those in Belgrade, were also elected on Sunday. Polling stations should close at 8 p.m. CET. The first results were expected late in the evening.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
