we summarize in three acts the political crisis in the country after the legislative elections

Denouncing fraud during the December 17 elections, the opposition to President Aleksandar Vucic called for blocking the streets of Belgrade on Friday. This action takes place the day before new ballots organized in 30 polling stations.

In power since 2012, is the political future of the outgoing Serbian nationalist president, Aleksandar Vucic, threatened by the streets? Nearly two weeks after the general elections, with results immediately contested by the opposition, the government is facing a major protest movement. Franceinfo summarizes this political crisis for you in three acts.

Act 1: opposition erased from the campaign in the media

These elections, coupled with local ballots, were announced by Aleksandar Vucic, after the dissolution of the Serbian National Assembly on November 1. Scheduled for December 17, these legislative elections are the third in less than four years in the former Yugoslav republic, particularly hit by inflation. They intervened”in a context of strong polarization and intense competition” between the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the presidential formation (right), and the coalition bringing together the opposition parties, Serbia against violence (SPN), noted on December 18 the Organization for Security and Cooperation (Osce ).

Omnipresent in the media during the electoral campaign, Aleksandar Vucic notably appeared almost daily on television channels during the last days before the election. Opposition parties have seen their speaking time reduced dramatically. A study published by the Office for Social Research, a Serbian think tank, claims that the former information minister of dictator Slobodan Milosevic monopolized 40% of news time on national channels. This figure rises to more than 70% if we add subjects devoted to the government or the presidential party.

This situation was highlighted by members of the international observation mission led by the OSCE, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. In their report (PDF), they believe that “despite the large number of media, the diversity of points of view is reduced by (…) a strong influence of the government on most organs”.

The opposition also denounced pressure and intimidation. “Each time, we say to ourselves that it has never been worse, that they have never behaved in such a violent way. But unfortunately, this time again, we are faced with enormous fear, everywhere in Serbia. . We live in a country of violence, corruption and terrible crime.”explained Borko Stefanovic, SPN candidate, before the vote.

Act 2: immediately contested results

On December 17, a few hours after the last polling stations closed, the Serbian president claimed his party’s victory. The SNS won, according to official results, an overwhelming victory with 46% of the votes, against 23.5% for Serbia Against Violence.

These figures were immediately contested by the opposition coalition which denounced several cases of fraud in Belgrade. According to the SNP, “more than 40,000 people” voted without residing there, transported by bus from Republika Srpska, a Serbian entity located in Bosnia. These organized migrations of voters put “endanger the principles of electoral equality and the guaranteed right of citizens to choose”, affirmed the Serbian NGO responsible for electoral observation CRTA, which also denounces fraud. Several thousand demonstrators gathered on December 18 in front of the headquarters of the electoral commission in Belgrade to demand the cancellation of the vote and the departure of the president.

Other irregularities are denounced by the observers of the international mission in their preliminary report. “Vote buying and ballot stuffing”were also mentioned by the members of the mission who underlined that “the measures aimed at guaranteeing the secrecy of the vote were insufficient”.

Germany described the frauds as“unacceptable” for a country hoping to join the European Union, while the United States called on Belgrade to respond to “concerns” electoral observers. For the European Union, “Serbia’s electoral process requires tangible improvements and further reforms”. Emmanuel Macron congratulated the Serbian president on his victory, the Elysée confirmed to AFP.

Act 3: new elections boycotted by the opposition

In an attempt to calm criticism, the Serbian electoral commission announced on December 20 that a new vote would be held in 30 polling stations (including two abroad). “where the results (…) could not be determined. for sure. The opposition refused to participate in this vote organized on December 30, and is calling on its supporters to boycott.

“The elections which will be repeated (…) cannot undo the fraud nor correct the injustice (…). This is the reason why we will not participate in the repeat of the vote”, underlined the coalition in a statement. The head of the coalition list, Marinika Tepic, as well as six members of the opposition, began a hunger strike after the announcement of the results. “This simply needs to be done to raise awareness in Serbia and abroad”explained the 49-year-old politician.

The decision of the electoral commission did not put an end to the demonstrations organized in the country by the opposition and student movements. On Sunday in Belgrade, around 30 demonstrators were arrested by police on Christmas Day as they tried to enter the town hall by breaking windows.

The Belgrade High Court said four of the arrested protesters would remain in detention for thirty days. They are notably accused of “violent behavior during a public gathering” reports the site Balkan Insight. Ivica Dacic, first vice-president of the government, for his part, accused the demonstrators of wanting “destroy the constitutional order”. Seven arrested protesters, who pleaded guilty, were given suspended prison sentences of up to six months and fines of 20,000 Serbian dinars (171 euros) each.

The detentions do not, however, discourage opponents from continuing the mobilization. Hundreds of Serbian opposition activists, mostly students, called for a 24-hour blockade of the capital’s streets on Friday. LThe Serbian prosecutor’s office also announced on December 23 that it had asked the police to gather evidence concerning the allegations of fraud.