Aleksandar Vucic's ruling party wins legislative elections in Serbia

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The conservative party in power in Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vucic, recorded an overwhelming victory in the legislative elections on Sunday June 21, according to the results of polls by Ipsos and CeSID. 

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The party of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic extended this Sunday, June 22, its grip on power by an electoral tidal wave in Parliament where the opposition is reduced to frenzy and denounces an authoritarian drift. "  I am grateful to the people for this historic support  ," launched the president, announcing that the Serbian Progress Party (SNS, center right), in power for eight years, had won more than 63% of the vote. "  We have won everywhere, we have won where we have never won,  " he said. The SNS could have nearly 200 of the 250 mandates of the future Parliament, estimates our correspondent in Belgrade, Jean-Arnault Dérens .

According to estimates by the Ipsos institute, its partner in the outgoing coalition, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS, center-left) won 10% of the vote. These first national elections in Europe since the confinement imposed by the coronavirus pandemic took place in the presidential shadow. Aleksandar Vucic did not appear but his name appeared on the ballot papers as boss of the SNS.

" Electoral Tsunami "

This unstoppable victory was helped by the boycott of the ballot by the main opposition parties, according to which free elections were impossible due to the distortion of the media and democratic landscape.

Despite their calls to stay at home and fears linked to the coronavirus, participation has not declined in dramatic proportions, to 50% according to SNS estimates.

This did not prevent the opposition parties behind the boycott calls from denouncing "false" elections and claiming the success of their movement.

"  In this electoral system, a 40% victory is a very good result but with more than 62% for the SNS, we are dealing with an electoral tsunami  ", commented on RTS television Slobodan Zecevic, professor at the Institute for European studies.

The Constitution gives the president an honorary role, but Aleksandar Vucic, 50, is undoubtedly the one who makes the decisions. The head of state, who was twice prime minister, emerged stronger from the coronavirus crisis and is more popular than ever according to polls.

" Competitive autocracy "

Analysts speak of a “  competitive authoritarian system  ”. "  We have competition but the protagonists are not equal,  " Dusan Spasojevic, professor of political science at the University of Belgrade, told AFP. The ruling party benefits from a media landscape dominated by the pro-government press, and from a vast electoral base made up of public service employees and their relatives, analysts stress.

The NGO Freedom House believes that Serbia is no longer a democracy but a "hybrid regime".

But the head of state can also count on strong allies on the international scene. In addition to China and Russia, Aleksandar Vucic is supported by the West, which considers him capable of resolving the dispute with Kosovo, the former Serbian province whose independence Belgrade refuses to recognize.

After voting on Sunday, the head of state warned that "the  days and weeks to come will be difficult, especially with regard to Kosovo  ". In his victory speech, Aleksandar Vucic announced that he would go to Moscow on Tuesday, before Washington on Saturday for a meeting with his Kosovar counterpart Hashim Thaçi.

(With AFP)

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• Serbia
• Aleksandar Vucic