Serbian president’s alliance wins general elections

BELGRADE

The official results of the Dec. 17 general elections in Serbia have been announced by the State Election Commission.

The Commission said in a statement that the Aleksandar Vucic-Serbia Should Not Stop alliance, led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and supported by President Aleksandar Vucic, secured victory by obtaining 46% of the vote in the early elections.

The statement indicated that the alliance l won 129 of the 250-seat National Assembly, and the opposition alliance, Serbia Against Violence, consisting of opposition parties, received 23% of the vote and secured 65 seats in the Assembly.

The Ivica Dacic-Serbia Prime Minister alliance won 18 seats, the NADA coalition secured 13, the People's Vote, Our Choice alliance received 13, the Vojvodina Hungarians Union List had six, the Usama Zukorlic-Union for Justice List won two, the Democratic Action Party-Sandzak (SDA Sandzak) secured two and the Russia Party and the Albanian Political Struggle List each managed to secure one seat apiece.

The statement highlighted that with 18 lists participating in the election, 10 have earned the right to enter the Assembly based on official results.

It said the results would be published in the official gazette.

Following the announcement of official results, parliament is expected to begin its duties within 30 days, and a new government is anticipated to be formed within 90 days.

Opposition protests lasted 13 days

Meanwhile, immediately after the elections, the Serbia Against Violence alliance organized protests in Belgrade with the participation of thousands, claiming irregularities in the voting process.

The opposition demanded the cancellation of the elections during the protests held from Dec. 18 -30.

Tear gas was used to disperse demonstrators attempting to enter the Belgrade City Assembly building. Protesters throwing torches at the building broke doors, windows and security cameras.

The State Election Commission announced the rejection of the objections raised by the Serbia Against Violence alliance. Following the announcement and with the arrival of the new year and Orthodox Christmas, the opposition last gathered Dec. 30.

The opposition claimed that hundreds of people were taken by buses from the Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's entities, to Belgrade on Dec. 17 to vote "illegally."

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul