Elections in Serbia to repeat following protests and accusations of falsifications
In Belgrade, repeat elections will be held after protests and accusations of falsifications (photo: Getty Images)
On Saturday, March 2, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) announced repeat municipal elections in Belgrad, which were first held on December 17 and were marred by accusations of fraud and bribery, states the acting mayor of the Serbian capital, Aleksandar Šapić.
"We have raised the bar. We made a decision to our detriment, but we are not afraid," said Aleksandar. He noted that they will go to the elections with the broadest front, a big movement.
At a press conference, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić called on the government to immediately begin implementing the recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) regarding the December elections in Serbia.
What is known about the elections in Serbia
In early November 2023, Vučić dissolved the Serbian parliament and called for new elections on December 17, 2023. The previous general elections in Serbia took place in April 2022, with the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026.
The Serbian Progressive Party, led by Vučić, won the December 17 elections. However, the opposition believed that the parliamentary elections were falsified. The President of Serbia stated that it was an absolute victory and it made him happy.
Furthermore, on December 18, during a press conference, the OSCE also reported violations in the Serbian elections, including voter bribery, media bias, and the influence of President Aleksandar Vučić.
Protests in Belgrade
On December 24, 2023, protests against the election results began in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Representatives of the opposition and some demonstrators tried to break through the closed doors of the Belgrade City Hall. Protesters smashed windows and glass at the entrance. Law enforcement used tear gas. Vučić described the unrest as dramatic scenes.
