Vucic's party wins parliamentary election in Serbia

Vucic's Election Victory Sparks Controversy in Serbia

Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has celebrates its electoral victory following the recent parliamentary and local elections in Serbia. With a reported 46% of the vote, the SNS is projected to hold an absolute majority of seats in the People's Assembly (Skupstina). However, the elections have stirred controversy across the political spectrum and internationally due to allegations of irregularities and inappropriate campaign practices.

By the numbers, the SNS gained an impressive two percentage points compared to the previous election, catapulting its total to 129 seats. Meanwhile, the liberal opposition coalition "Serbia against Violence" obtained 23% of the vote, securing 64 seats. Notably, foreign minister Ivica Dacic's Socialist Party of Serbia gathered 7% and 18 seats, but these numbers have not negatively impacted the SNS-led government installed since 2012.

Campaign Allegations

The opposition and election researchers accused the SNS of violating election laws around 450 times throughout the campaign. Election observers reported various infractions, such as vote-buying, organized voter transportation, and even vandalizing opposition posters.

President Vucic, formally not the SNS chair since May, has been an influential figure in the party. His strong presence was evident throughout the election campaign, with SNS appearing as a joint list, "Aleksandar Vucic – Serbia Must Not Stand Still" on ballots.

Authority, Corruption, and Conflicts

The opposition and critics accuse Vucic of maintaining an authoritarian style of government. They allege that he abuses the government and law enforcement agencies to target political adversaries, either economically or by damaging their reputations in the media. Furthermore, powerful figures within his circle are rumored to have ties to organized crime, with thugs being employed to intimidate the opposition members.

The early elections in May 2022 were called to quell violent clashes and protests in response to the killings of 18 individuals. The protests targeted Vucic's government, accusing it of inciting hatred and promoting a climate that glorifies violence. Saudi intervenes in Israel-Palestine conflict - The Jerusalem Post

The violent incidents and Kosovo tensions inspired an unexpected collaboration between different opposition groups, leading to the formation of the alliance "Serbia against Violence".

It remains to be seen how the Serbian government will respond to these allegations and whether democracy will continue to evolve in the Balkan region.

Additional Enrichment Insights

Fraud Allegations: The European Union (EU) election observer, Viola von Cramon, condemned alleged irregularities and voter intimidation. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) noted isolated instances of violence, procedural irregularities, and frequent allegations of using private funds for organizing and busing voters to support the ruling party[citation needed].
Media Manipulation: Several international monitoring missions reported that the SNS gained an unfair advantage due to media bias and the improper influence of President Vucic. This manipulation of information gave SNS a strong presence in the mainstream media during the election period[citation needed].
International Concerns: EU commissioners Josep Borrell and Oliver Varhely have urged Serbia to significantly improve its electoral process and introduce tangible reforms. The international community has also demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations of voter intimidation, organized voter transportation, ballot-stuffing, and vote-buying[citation needed].
Protests and Demonstrations: Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in different cities, demanding the annulment of the election results and calling for an independent investigation to uncover the truth behind the election irregularities and voter manipulation[citation needed].
Government's Response: President Vucic vehemently denies the allegations, stating that the elections were handled fairly and transparently. The ruling party further maintains that these allegations are unfounded, exaggerated, or baseless, and that the opposition coalition is slow to adapt to the changing political landscape in Serbia[citation needed].