2024 Serbian local elections

2024 Serbian local elections

← 2023 2 June 2024

Politics of Serbia
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Local elections were held in a majority of cities and municipalities in Serbia (excluding the disputed territory of Kosovo) on 2 June 2024.

Background

Initially, the Serbian government planned to hold a local election only for the City Assembly of Belgrade on 2 June, with the other local elections taking place later in the year. The Belgrade vote was required due to the city assembly's failure to constitute itself after the 2023 Belgrade City Assembly election, while the other elections were scheduled to take place in accordance with Serbia's regular local electoral cycle. Ana Brnabić, the president of the national assembly, contended that holding all local elections on 2 June would require a change in Serbia's law on local elections and would unfairly restrict the mandate of those elected in the last regular local election in 2020.^[1] Following extended controversy, however, the law was amended on 23 April and local elections were announced for various cities and municipalities on 26 April.^{[citation needed]}

Electoral process

With the exception of Belgrade, the cities and municipalities of Serbia that held off-year local elections in 2021, 2022, and 2023 participated in the 2024 vote. As several municipalities in Central Serbia held off-year elections in 2023, the overall number of jurisdictions holding local elections in 2024 was significantly lower than in the previous election cycle.

All local elections in Serbia are held under proportional representation. Mayors are not directly elected but are instead chosen by elected members of the local assemblies. The electoral threshold for assembly representation is three per cent (of all votes, not only of valid votes), although parties representing national minority communities are exempt from this requirement.

Parties

Serbia's governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and its allies participated fully in the elections. The opposition parties were by contrast divided on their strategy. Among the parties of the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) coalition, the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), Serbia Centre (SRCE), and Together (Zajedno) announced a boycott in most jurisdictions, stating that no adequate guarantees were provided that the elections would be free and fair and that there was insufficient time for the situation to change.^{[citation needed]}

As against this, the People's Movement of Serbia (NPS), the Green–Left Front (ZLF), the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), Ecological Uprising (EU), and the New Face of Serbia (NLS) participated in the vote. Although the Democratic Party (DS) voted in favour of a boycott, it also decided to adopt the position of the majority of the opposition parties, and on that basis it participated in the election as well. Outside the SPN coalition, the parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NADA) alliance chose to boycott the elections in most jurisdictions.^[2][3] Other opposition parties, including Dveri, chose to participate.^[4]

On 26 April 2024, SSP leader Dragan Đilas said that although his party would be boycotting the election in most jurisdictions, it would not discourage citizens from voting.^[5]

Incidents

Opposition parties accused the SNS of organising polling stations, leading to clashes in Belgrade and Novi Sad as opposition activists tried to enter suspected SNS venues. Ana Brnabić said on X social media platform that the SNS had set up “call centers” to contact supporters and urge them to vote.^[6] The Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability, a non-governmental organisation, recorded incidents of organized voting, vote-buying, violations of vote secrecy, and the presence of unauthorized persons at polling stations, which prompted them to file criminal charges.^[7]

Results

The Serbian Progressive Party's alliance won the elections in most jurisdictions. In the election for the Belgrade city assembly, the SNS alliance won a majority of seats,^[8] followed by the opposition Kreni Promeni (Go for Change).^[9]

Belgrade

Novi Sad

Preliminary results of the election for the City Assembly of Novi Sad:

Niš

Preliminary results of the election for the City Assembly of Niš:

References