Local elections have been officially scheduled in nine cities and municipalities across Serbia, with voters set to head to the polls on March 29, following a decision announced by Ana Brnabić, the president of the National Assembly of Serbia.
Citizens in Bor, Aranđelovac, Bajina Bašta, Kladovo, Knjaževac, Kula, Lučani, Majdanpek, and Smederevska Palanka will participate in the vote. The elections are considered regular local elections, as the previous ones in these municipalities were held on April 3, 2022.
Brnabić expressed hope that the upcoming vote would take place in a democratic and peaceful atmosphere, calling on all participants to contribute to a fair electoral process.
However, the announcement comes amid ongoing political tensions in Serbia, particularly following controversies surrounding recent local elections in several municipalities late last year. Those elections were marked by reports of irregularities, allegations of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and attacks on independent observers, some of which allegedly occurred even in the presence of police.
Observers and opposition parties accused the ruling Serbian Progressive Party of involvement in the incidents, while authorities rejected the claims and issued counter-accusations. The European Union has called for investigations into the reported irregularities.
Political tensions in the country have also intensified since the deadly accident at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, which resulted in 16 fatalities and one seriously injured person. The tragedy triggered mass protests across Serbia, led largely by students demanding accountability and calling for early parliamentary elections.
