The opposition in Kosjerić, a municipality in western Serbia, has declared victory in the local elections held on Sunday, while the government has yet to make any official statement. Representatives of the “United for Kosjerić” list reported that they are leading based on data from 27 out of 29 polling stations. The local elections in Kosjerić and Zaječar, a municipality in southern Serbia, serve as the first electoral test for the government since the student blockades started in November 2024, sparked by the death of 16 people following the collapse of a concrete shelter at the Novi Sad train station. Both municipalities have long been governed by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), founded by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
By 7:00 PM, 82% of eligible voters had cast their ballots in Kosjerić, and 59.6% in Zaječar, according to the election monitoring organization CRTA (Center for Research, Transparency, and Accountability). Supporters of the opposition list “United for Kosjerić” gathered in front of the municipal building where votes were being counted, chanting “Victory” and “It’s over.” Residents of Zaječar also assembled in the town center awaiting election results. Polling stations in both municipalities opened at 7:00 AM and closed at 8:00 PM.
The Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that there were attempts to illegally block certain polling stations and disrupt the election process in Kosjerić but that these incidents were handled in accordance with the law. According to the ministry, police officers from the Kosjerić station are investigating reports from the Election Commission President that at polling station 22 in the village of Dermanovina, observer Veselin Ristanović, representing the “United for Kosjerić” list, burned the voter list for those voting from home. CRTA also reported receiving threats and provocative phone calls directed at some of its observers in Kosjerić.
In Zaječar, eight electoral lists competed, while in Kosjerić there were only three: “We Will Not Give Up on Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić,” “Russian Party – Serbia in BRICS, Slobodan Nikolić,” and “United for Kosjerić.” In Zaječar, the competing lists included “We Will Not Give Up on Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić,” “The Change We Believe In – Uglješa Đuričković, Dragana Rašić,” “United to Save Zaječar – Mirko Jelenković, Miladin Krstić,” “Dr. Nenad Ristović – Local for Zaječar,” “Ivica Dačić – SPS – Determined for Zaječar,” the minority list “Coalition for Eastern Serbia – Saša Radulović Gerlanac,” “We, the Power of the People – Prof. Branimir Nestorović,” and “Liberal Serbs – Vladimir Kovačević.”
Although initially not viewed as highly significant, the election campaigns in these two municipalities were marked by incidents, clashes between government and opposition supporters, and attacks on media crews. Despite their small populations, Kosjerić and Zaječar have become important topics in recent weeks and key destinations for visits by senior state officials, including President Vučić himself.
