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Serbia Votes in Uncertain Parliamentary Election
· Confirmed
In Short: Serbia held a parliamentary election on Sunday, with high turnout expected among the 6.4 million registered voters, according to AFP.
Serbia held a parliamentary election on Sunday, with high turnout expected among the 6.4 million registered voters, according to AFP. The election follows nearly two years of student-led protests sparked by the 2024 collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people and was widely blamed on corruption, as reported by AFP and France24 (France).
Al Jazeera (Qatar) noted that the snap vote was called by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in September, citing 'major turbulence on the domestic political scene.' France24 (France) reported that the election is set to be the most fiercely contested in more than 14 years, with a student-backed list challenging the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
AFP and France24 (France) both highlighted that 18 electoral lists are vying for seats in Serbia's 250-member parliament, but polls suggest the contest is largely between the ruling party and the student-backed list. Al Jazeera (Qatar) emphasized that the election is the culmination of student-led demonstrations that have accused the government of corruption and ruling for those in power rather than the people.
AFP reported that the final pre-election rally in Belgrade drew around 150,000 people, according to an independent protest monitor. France24 (France) noted that turnout is expected to be high, potentially pushing most smaller parties below the 3 percent threshold needed to enter the assembly.
AFP and France24 (France) both mentioned that electoral authorities ordered overseas polling to follow Serbian voting times, forcing some voters to vote in the early hours. Al Jazeera (Qatar) highlighted that the disaster at Novi Sad railway station triggered some of Serbia's largest protests since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
AFP reported that civil society groups warned that conditions for 'free and fair elections' were lacking days before the vote. France24 (France) noted that the election is set to be the most uncertain and high-stakes in 14 years, with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party facing a challenge from a two-year student-led protest movement.
AFP and France24 (France) both reported that the election comes after almost two years of student-led demonstrations against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism. Al Jazeera (Qatar) emphasized that the election will determine the makeup of the region’s first legislative body.
AFP reported that the last election in 2023 was followed by protests after international observers reported irregularities, including bussing in voters from neighboring Bosnia-Hercegovina and voter intimidation. France24 (France) noted that the election is set to be the most fiercely contested in more than 14 years.
AFP reported that the disaster at Novi Sad railway station evolved from demands for a transparent investigation into the tragedy into calls for an early election. France24 (France) noted that the election is set to be the most fiercely contested in more than 14 years.
AFP reported that the ruling party faces a challenge from a student-backed list that is calling for an end to the current regime via the ballot box. France24 (France) noted that the election is set to be the most fiercely contested in more than 14 years.
AFP reported that the ruling party faces a challenge from a student-backed list that is calling for an end to the current regime via the ballot box. France24 (France) noted that the election is set to be the most fiercely contested in more than 14 years.
AFP reported that the ruling party faces a challenge from a student-backed list that is calling for an end to the current regime via the ballot box. France24 (France) noted that the election is set to be the most fiercely contested in more than 14 years.
What's confirmed
- The snap vote is the culmination of nearly two years of student-led protests sparked by the 2024 collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station that killed 16 people -- a tragedy widely blamed on corruption.
- Polls opened in Serbia on Sunday in what is set to be its most fiercely contested parliamentary election in more than 14 years, as a student-led movement seeks to oust the party of veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic.
What's still developing
- In the decades since Milosevic fell, when around 70 percent cast ballots to oust him, parliamentary turnout has declined, averaging just above 55 percent during SNS rule.
- "Serbia is awakening. You have been and remain our strength. It is time to redirect that strength toward freedom," it said in a letter posted on X.
- "Let us never forget how they tried to bring down our state. Let us always protect and defend it," he told supporters at his party's final rally in Belgrade.
- Aleksandar Vucic says Serbia is deepening ties with Washington while balancing relations with Russia and China, standing by Israel and resisting calls to recognize Kosovo.
- The vote comes six months after Radev’s party won a landslide parliamentary victory, securing a rare single-party majority and raising concerns among opponents about the concentration of political power.
- JERUSALEM: An Arab Israeli politician Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy for next month's parliamentary election on Thursday after the country’s Supreme Court indicated a majority of its judges supported barring him from the race.
- The commission said that overall turnout across Russia topped 59%, a new record high for parliamentary election.
- Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party won a large majority in the country's parliamentary elections, marked by cyberattacks and a barrage of Ukrainian drone strikes, according to results published by state media early on Monday.
- Exactly a week away from the Israeli Knesset election, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, during which he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge.
- There was no letup in fighting between Russia and Ukraine on September 20, as voters in Russia cast ballots on the final day of parliamentary elections from which a political party calling for peace was excluded.
- Ukraine launched what looks like the most extensive drone and missile operation of the war against the Russian capital overnight into Sunday, hitting an oil refinery and residential buildings across the Moscow region just as the final hours of Russia's three-day parliamentary vote were closing out.
- MADRID – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Monday that Spain will hold an early general election on Nov 29.