Controversial Victory: Ruling Bloc and Opposition Spar Over Kosjeric Election Results
Serbian Local Election Outcome Disputed: Contending Claims of Triumph by Governing Party and Opposition - Contest for local government seats in Serbia: Each party asserts triumph, providing a contentious post-vote setting.
The election day in Kosjeric, a 10,000-resident town, was far from peaceful. Supporters of both the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the opposition Civic List Together for Kosjeric clashed, necessitating the deployment of a significant police presence. Amidst the turmoil, the opposition party alleged irregularities at numerous polling stations, claiming victory and demanding further investigation.
Despite the opposition's claims, Sergebian President Aleksandar Vucic declared a win for the SNS, stating that "We won because the people chose the state, because the people said: 'You are not destroying Serbia'." Vucic's party also claimed victory in Zajecar, another town with a population of 40,000, receiving 48 percent of the votes compared to the opposition's 38 percent.
However, the opposition's leading candidate, Slavica Pantovic, was quick to counter, asserting that "We have no doubt about the victory, and no one can take it from us." The opposition's organization, Crta, which had 500 election observers, reported "irregularities" in 86 percent of the polling stations in Zajecar and 55 percent in Kosjeric.
This local election has taken on national significance, as it serves as a barometer for the ruling party's influence amidst widespread discontent with the government in Belgrade. The protests were ignited by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad last November, resulting in 16 deaths. Initially, the protests focused on the accident's cause, but they soon broadened into anti-government demonstrations, largely driven by students, and calls for new elections. Vucic has dismissed the unrest as being directed from abroad.
- Irate Opposition
- Turbulent Elections
- Serbia
- Aleksandar Vucic
- Protest Wave
- Controversial Victory
- Police Intervention
- Irregularities
- The irate opposition, Civic List Together for Kosjeric, called for further investigation, alleging irregularities in the election results despite Sergebian President Aleksandar Vucic's declaration of a victory for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Kosjeric.
- The turbulent elections in Kosjeric and Zajecar, where the SNS won with 48 percent and 38 percent of the votes respectively, have taken on national significance, serving as a barometer for the ruling party's influence amidst widespread discontent with the government in Belgrade.
- Amidst protests ignited by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad last November, which resulted in 16 deaths, the opposition's organization, Crta, reported "irregularities" in 86 percent of the polling stations in Zajecar and 55 percent in Kosjeric, challenging the SNS's victory.
- Aleksandar Vucic dismissed the unrest as being directed from abroad and declared a win for the SNS in Kosjeric, stating "We won because the people chose the state, because the people said: 'You are not destroying Serbia'."
- Despite facing police intervention on an election day marred by clashes between supporters of the ruling SNS and opposition Civic List Together for Kosjeric, the opposition's leading candidate, Slavica Pantovic, asserted that "We have no doubt about the victory, and no one can take it from us."
