Polling stations in Serbia closed their doors on Sunday following the end of voting in the early parliamentary elections, amid violence and reports of breaches at some polling stations. Voting began at 07:00 local time (06:00 GMT), and the boxes were closed at 20:00.
More than 6.4 million registered voters were called to vote to elect 250 new members of the National Assembly. The Serbian state election commission announced that turnout reached 67.6 percent by 19:00 local time, one hour before the closing of polling stations. Serbian media reported that turnout could set a record, compared to 58 percent in the 2023 elections.
Violence
The election day saw violence at some polling stations. Serbian media reported that masked groups attacked citizens with sticks after they left polling stations. The Ministry of Interior stated in a statement that violence in the "Lazarevac" area resulted in the injury of two police officers, after several individuals threw stones and materials described by the ministry as "dangerous" at police officers.
Andreas von Bechtolsheim, the European Union ambassador to Serbia, expressed "deep concern" over the violence via his account on the American company X platform. He called on all parties to "maintain calm, act responsibly, and stay away from violence and provocations," urging authorities to ensure the security of all participants in the electoral process.
Allegations of breaches
Reports also circulated alleging breaches at some polling stations, including the photographing of voting cards and the failure to properly activate systems designed to prevent repeated voting. Large numbers of police armored vehicles were seen on the streets of the capital, Belgrade, as the closing time for the boxes approached, amid tight security measures.
The elections took place against the backdrop of student protests that have been ongoing for about two years, which erupted after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the city of Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, killing 16 people. The current elections are the first national vote held following these protests.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić signed a decree dissolving parliament and launching the early election process last September, prior to his resignation from the presidency. Preliminary unofficial results are expected to be announced before midnight.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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