Serbian Elections 2023: The Fall of Democratic Facade
Snap parliamentary, provincial, and local elections in 65 cities and municipalities in Serbia were held on 17 December 2023 after months of political turmoil. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of President Aleksandar Vučić comfortably won the parliamentary election with almost 47% of the vote, but the entire ruling majority won less votes together than before and the united pro-EU opposition within the coalition “Serbia against Violence” won almost 24% of the vote, a historically best result of any opposition list since Vučić came to power in 2012.
The most important aspect of the 17 December elections, however, was not their results, but a vast number of irregularities and controversies which led to unprecedented criticism of the electoral process by both domestic and international observers, including the ODiHR, Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Especially concerning were allegations of organized voter migration to Belgrade from other Serbian cities and abroad, which brought into question the legitimacy of the entire electoral process.
This report was published in cooperation between the Centre for Contemporary Politics and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Belgrade.
Authors: Nikola Burazer, Aleksandar Ivković, Sofija Popović, Jovana Maričić
