The allegations of election fraud in Serbia in 2024 have led to significant unrest and protests. Following the parliamentary and municipal elections on December 17, 2023, President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) was declared the winner with 46.72% of the votes, according to preliminary results. However, the main opposition alliance, Serbia Against Violence, led by Marinika Tepic, has claimed that the election was stolen, particularly highlighting irregularities in the vote for the Belgrade city authorities. This has sparked widespread protests, with thousands of people demanding the annulment of the election results and accusing the governing party of orchestrating fraud.
The protests have been marked by incidents of violence, with riot police firing tear gas and pepper spray at opposition supporters who attempted to storm Belgrade City Hall. Opposition supporters have also been reported chanting slogans against Vucic, equating him with Putin, and attempting to break into the capital’s administrative building but were repelled by riot police.
International observers and local election monitors have reported multiple irregularities, including vote-buying, ballot box stuffing, and the busing in of voters from across Serbia and neighboring countries to cast ballots in Belgrade. Despite these allegations, Vucic and the SNS have rejected reports of fraud as “fabricated”.
Opposition leaders, including Tepic, have lodged formal complaints and called for an international probe of the vote. They have also accused the EU of turning a blind eye to Serbia’s democratic shortcomings in exchange for regional stability, while Vucic has maintained that the election was fair and accused the opposition of inciting violence.
This situation highlights the deep political divisions in Serbia and raises concerns about the state of democracy in the country, with critics arguing that Vucic has reinstated autocracy by taking full control over media and state institutions since coming to power in 2012.
