Belgrade again in elections

The power elections in Serbia's capital will be re-run later this year, Serbian authorities said Sunday. The announcement followed several months of growing political tensions over claims that President Aleksandar Vucic's ruling party deceived in the Belgrade City Assembly elections.

The right-wing Serbian Progressive Party was proclaimed winner of the 17 December parliamentary and local elections. But the main opposition coalition, Serbia vs. Violence, insisted that victory in Belgrade and voting for the country's parliament were also marred by widespread irregularities.

Disagreements led to major street protests.

It was not immediately clear when elections in Belgrade will be held, but Sunday marked the official deadline for the institution of power.

“Constitute that there is currently no quorum for holding the session, and it is announced that the pre-emptive conditions with the law for local self-government have not been met for the provision of the Belgrade City Assembly. That means elections”, said Toma Fila, president of the Belgrade Assembly.

President Vucic and his party have dismissed claims of fraud by naming them the intention of destabilizing Serbia.

International election observers said earlier this week that the December vote was held in “unfair conditions”, in part due to the president's involvement and systematic priorities for the ruling party.

The report of a Security and Co-operation Organisation office in Europe also said the elections were “damaged by harsh rhetoric, media animations, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources”.

He listed a set of recommendations Serbia must meet ahead of the upcoming elections.

Opposition politicians said developments in Belgrade testified that President Vucic lost power for a decade in the Serbian capital.

“Today, they admitted that they lost their choices despite the theft of large proportions. Belgrade citizens have shown they do not love them”, said Vladimir Obradovic, an opposition candidate for the post of Belgrade chairman.

The opposition and some local election observers said voters from abroad were included in the voters' lists in Belgrade and were sent by bus on election day to vote for the ruling party.

Serbia is a candidate country for membership in the European Union, but President Vucic has faced charges of curbing democratic freedoms since taking over power in the Balkan country over a decade ago. / REL