Elections in Serbia: Voters Decide on Parliament's Future
This Sunday, Serbian citizens step up to elect the 250 members of their Parliament, known as the People's Assembly (Skupstina). A staggering 6.5 million eligible voters are called to participate in these early elections, with the right-wing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of President Aleksandar Vucic appearing as the clear favorite.
As per recent polls, the SNS is predicted to garner over 40% of the vote, with its long-time coalition partner, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) led by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, strengthening its presence within the nation.
Vucic's decision to dissolve the parliament less than two years after the last election is not a novel tactic. This presidential move, employing early elections three times in a row, bolsters the loyalty of his officials and supporters, ensuring his authority in the political sphere.
The immediate triggers for these early elections were two tragic mass shootings in May, which left 18 people dead, and ongoing conflicts in Kosovo, which has been independent since 2008. Serbia continues to vouch for its former province, now inhabited primarily by Albanians. The May killings sparked significant protests against Vucic's government, which was accused of promoting a climate of hate and glorifying violence.
In response, the liberal opposition forged an alliance named "Serbia against Violence." This coalition is aiming to claim victory in the simultaneous local elections happening in the capital city of Belgrade.
With polling stations closing at 20:00, expect the first results to trickle in late Sunday evening.
Additional Insights:
- Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) clinched an impressive victory in the parliamentary elections, earning nearly half of the votes cast (46.75%).
- The main opposition party, Serbia Against Violence (SPN), managed to secure 23.66% of the votes.
- The opposition has challenged the election results, alleging irregularities including busing in ethnic Serb voters from neighboring Bosnia for illegal voting.
Relevant Resources:
In this revised article, we delve into the 2021 early parliamentary elections in Serbia, where citizens picked their representatives for the 250-member Parliament, the People's Assembly (Skupstina). Triggered by mass shootings, President Aleksandar Vucic's dissolution of the Parliament, and ongoing conflicts in Kosovo, the political landscape underwent dramatic changes. Despite the controversial election tactics employed by Vucic, the opposition, taking the shape of "Serbia against Violence," aimed to seize control of the capital city, Belgrade, during the simultaneous local elections. Keep an eye on the polling stations as the first results begin to emerge late Sunday evening.
