Serbian police detained 38 individuals during protests held against speculated irregularities in the recent snap elections. In response to the demonstrations, the police employed tear gas to disperse the crowds demanding the annulment of the parliamentary and local council election results.
The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) found itself losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 2012 in last year’s elections. The Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, has since been facing numerous issues; a cabinet on the verge of collapse and public outrage over two mass shootings and accusations of fostering a violent culture. President of Serbia and SNS party member, Aleksandar Vučić, opted to hold a snap election out of schedule on December 17, asserting the need for the people to “unite in preserving vital national and state interests of the Republic of Serbia”.
Although the SNS managed to secure 47% of the votes in the election, the results were disputed immediately. The opposition parties, rallied under the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) banner, accused the SNS of electoral fraud and took to the streets on Monday evening. On the subject, the International Election Observation Mission noted that while the election process was primarily smooth, it was “overshadowed by isolated instances of violence, procedural irregularities and frequent allegations of organizing and busing of voters to support the ruling party in local elections.” The report revealed several breaches, including 9 cases of vote buying and 5 instances of ballot box stuffing.
Vučić, in turn, criticised the protests as intended efforts to dethrone the government under the influence of the West. In an Instagram post, he expressed that the will of the people ought to be respected, condemning the right to damage public property and injure police officers. Despite Serbia’s ongoing efforts to join the EU, the nation maintains strong ties with Russia, rejecting Kosovo’s independence. This stance exerts further tension in the region, with the latest demonstrations compromising Serbia’s stability.
Taken from: www.jurist.org