Riots and protests have erupted in Serbia following accusations of election fraud during the parliamentary and local elections held on December 17. Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray at opposition supporters attempting to storm Belgrade City Hall on Sunday evening. The protests stem from international observers claiming the elections were tainted by vote buying, ballot stuffing, and improper influence from President Aleksandar Vucic.
The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) was returned to power with a parliamentary majority, winning nearly 47 percent of the votes, according to preliminary results. The opposition alliance Serbia Against Violence has claimed to be the rightful winner, especially in Belgrade, where non-residents were reportedly recruited to vote.
Serbia Against Violence has rejected the election outcome and called on European Union institutions and member nations to initiate an investigation and not recognize the results. They argue that police presence and the rejection of opposition calls to rerun the vote point to the government’s unwillingness to acknowledge irregularities.
President Vucic has condemned the protests, describing them as an “attempted violent takeover” of state institutions and insisting that there is evidence to suggest that the demonstrations were planned in advance with foreign assistance. Vucic has categorically rejected calls for a revote and emphasized that those seeking to destabilize the state will not succeed.
The president’s statement comes as a response to ongoing protests, which erupted following mass shootings in May, and has since transformed into a broader anti-government movement. The protests have underscored issues such as rising inflation and perceived government corruption.
The situation in Serbia remains tense, with Vucic stating that more than 35 people have been arrested and warning that more would follow. The political turmoil in the country reflects the growing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, as well as the frustration of citizens over alleged electoral irregularities.
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