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When the polls were supposed to close at 8 p.m., many people were still standing in front of the polling stations, especially in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, and some had to wait more than an hour before they could cast their votes.
The opposition accuses the government of using delaying tactics to keep critical voters away from the polls. Non-governmental organizations also say that there have never been so many irregularities in the last 20 years.
It was only around 11 p.m., much later than expected, that President Aleksandar Vucic appeared in front of the television cameras with a stony expression, as if he were holding back tears. But when he proudly announced that the Serbian people had never placed such great trust in a president, he suddenly beamed from ear to ear.
Vucic got around 60 percent of the votes
He was also convinced that his Progressive Party, together with the previous coalition partners, would have an absolute majority in Parliament and be able to continue governing. The election results, which Vucic announced personally, should actually be announced by the national election commission.
This, however, went to the diving station in the early evening. Unlike the previous elections, she only wants to hold a press conference this Monday evening. The opposition therefore fears that the election results from Belgrade will be tampered with until then.
The mayor and the city parliament were also newly elected there. The opposition believes that Vucic’s Progressive Party in Belgrade has lost. If it turns out that Vucic’s people are trying to reverse the election result in the capital, there will be violent protests.
Unfair elections for years
There has been no talk of fair elections in Serbia for years. Vucic’s Progressive Party has almost all the media under control, and the opposition can hardly bring their views to the public. In addition, the Progressive Party abuses state functions and funds for election campaign purposes.
Voters are put under pressure by Vucic’s party members at their workplace or in front of the polling stations, especially in rural areas. And new apparent opposition parties regularly appear, which later turn out to be Vucic’s puppets.
The opposition knows that under these circumstances it is hardly possible to defeat Vucic in elections. But she hopes for an election success in Belgrade. There, the Progressive Party is less able to exercise its control over society and the political climate is less conservative and nationalistic.