The European Union and international monitors have raised serious concerns about the fairness of Serbia’s early parliamentary election, scheduled for 25 October, amid escalating political tensions. Observations from the EU mission in Serbia, along with delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, highlight that the election is being conducted in an environment characterised by deep polarisation between the populist government led by former President Aleksandar Vučić and opposing factions.
On Tuesday, the EU mission expressed concern about several reported incidents of violence, which are unacceptable in the context of an electoral process. The statement urged all relevant institutions to act promptly on any irregularities during the campaign and on election day.
These critical elections will determine whether Vučić will resume the role of prime minister following nearly two years of student-led protests. He resigned in September, more than seven months before the end of his second and final term, to spearhead his nationalist Serbian Progressive Party’s campaign for a majority in Serbia’s 250-seat parliament and prolong the populists’ 14-year rule.
Analysts have predicted a competitive race, high voter turnout, and a referendum-like atmosphere between Vučić’s SNS party and the Students’ List, which represents the youth movement involved in the protests that arose after a tragic train station incident on 1 November, 2024, claiming 16 lives. The ongoing protests have significantly challenged Vučić’s previously uncontested rule in Serbia.
Critics contend that Vučić has used pro-government media and exerted full control over state institutions to maintain his power. His purported suppression of democratic principles and civil liberties has impeded Serbia’s aspirations for European Union membership. Vučić and his allies have frequently labelled the student-led protests, critical media, and civil society organisations as foreign agents seeking to instigate disorder on election day, without providing substantiating evidence.
In a statement on Wednesday, PACE indicated that “The electoral campaign in Serbia is unfolding in a highly polarised environment that could jeopardise a level playing field for all candidates.” The statement drew attention to “hostile and aggressive rhetoric directed at opposition activists, civil society representatives, and journalists,” as well as “persistent and credible allegations of surveillance and concerns for the safety of voters and observers.”
In an interim report, OSCE officials noted that several key recommendations for the 2023 election remain unaddressed. These recommendations covered issues such as voter intimidation, journalist safety, the accuracy of voter rolls, and the effectiveness of the media regulator. Allegations of fraud, protests, and violent incidents have marred the 2023 parliamentary election, as well as local ballots in ten Serbian municipalities earlier this year. Ongoing concerns about the “accuracy of voter lists and arrangements for out-of-country voting” have raised questions about potential electoral manipulation, according to the PACE delegation.
The Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), a local nonprofit organisation, has declared that the upcoming 25 October election is already “irregular” due to threats against voting rights stemming from “intimidation, violence, and unlawful surveillance.”
The CRTA characterised the state election commission’s decision to align foreign voting hours with the nation’s Central European time zone and accept a disputed list of polling stations abroad as “unprecedented.” This decision has sparked significant political controversy, as it may require thousands of overseas voters to vote late at night or travel long distances to reach their nearest polling stations.
Serbian authorities have not issued any official statements in response to the observers’ comments. Nonetheless, pro-government media coverage has highlighted the positive aspects of the electoral legislation, including the fact that electoral commission hearings are now public and livestreamed.
The EU delegation underscored that free and fair elections are a fundamental prerequisite for advancing towards potential membership in the bloc. Although Serbia is officially a candidate for EU accession, Vučić has maintained strong ties with Russia and China.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
