About 6.5 million Serbs were called to the polls this Sunday to vote in early parliamentary elections, with the populist party of the president, Aleksandar Vucic, expected to consolidate its power. According to the first results, referring to 60% of the votes, he had 46.6% – equivalent to 129 out of 250 deputies. “I expect a landslide victory,” the president had told journalists during the day, stressing that Serbia “has an important task to fulfill in the coming years.”
Local elections were also at stake in some places, namely in the capital Belgrade, where the opposition united under the candidacy of the Serbian Movement Against Violence – formed after two shootings early this year that triggered a wave of anti-government protests. – hoped for a surprise and claimed victory. However, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic warned that the counting of votes had only just begun. Nationally, the movement had 23.1%, equivalent to 64 delegates.
The opposition was betting on high participation that could mean a change. “I hope that in the end we will have a large turnout in Belgrade and throughout Serbia and that voters will have the freedom to express their will,” said Dobrica Veselinovic, one of the leaders of the Movement Against Violence. .
Socialist delegate Jorge Seguro Sanches took part in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) election observation mission. The mission observed early parliamentary elections, which took place together with local elections, but not the latter. “The process took place in an absolutely peaceful and calm manner, normal, let’s say,” the deputy told DN this Sunday, after visiting eight voting locations.
Seguro Sanches, however, speaks of some “very curious features” of the campaign in Serbia. In the elections for the election of the 250 MPs, 18 parties participated, and the one that had received the most votes so far – and was well placed to repeat a good result – was President Vucic’s SNS (acronym of the Serbian Progressive Party), 53 years old, re-elected only 18 months ago.
“The most remarkable thing now is: they are running in an electoral designation called Aleksandar Vucic – Serbia cannot stop. In other words, the president heads the name of the political force participating in the elections, despite not being a candidate himself.” the deputy said. “It is as if President Marcelo in Portugal has now appointed a coalition for the legislative parties,” he added. President Vucic also appears on all the posters – “there are many, scattered everywhere, huge”. And he appeared on television every day while campaigning, the deputy added. The president did not appear on the ballot, but the entire election focused on him.
Serbian voters living in Kosovo were bused to southern Serbia because it was not possible to reach an agreement to vote in this region. Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Source: DN
