The Serbs crowded into the polling stations on Sunday, April 3, for elections after which populist President Aleksandar Vucic intends to extend a decade of reign by posing as the guarantor of stability, in the shadow of the war in Ukraine.

During this election marred by incidents, according to NGOs and the opposition, voters were called upon to appoint their head of state, their 250 deputies as well as several municipal councils, including that of Belgrade, the capital.

The unofficial results are expected late in the evening but turnout should be around ten points higher than that of the 2020 legislative elections, or up to 60%, according to the electoral commission.

According to the latest polls, the Serbian Progress Party (SNS, centre-right) of Aleksandar Vucic should confirm its hold on parliament, while the president himself seemed assured of a second term.

He had been before his election 5 years ago Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister.

>> To read also: in Serbia, the war in Ukraine upsets the general elections

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia at the end of February changed the course of the campaign which should have focused on the environment, corruption and rights in this Balkan country candidate for the European Union.

But Aleksandar Vucic, used to playing rival influences from East and West, seized the war to his advantage.

In a country suffering as elsewhere from the coronavirus pandemic, he presents himself as the only one capable of helming the ship in stormy weather.

He campaigned under the slogan "Peace. Stability. Vucic".

"We hope for a huge victory," he said, slipping his ballot into the ballot box.

"We have worked for this in recent years and we will continue with our efforts and the development of the country."

A tense ballot 

NGOs reported incidents and violence while opponents denounced attempts by the SNS to intimidate voters in polling stations. 

Pavle Grbovic, leader of a centre-left opposition party, claimed he was attacked by SNS activists while trying to film fraud in Belgrade. 

Only a few months ago, the opposition seemed to have made a breakthrough in the country of less than seven million inhabitants.

In January, Aleksandar Vucic canceled a controversial lithium mine project that had mobilized tens of thousands of protesters, a reversal rarely seen during his decade at the helm, as deputy prime minister, prime minister and then president.

According to the latest polls, the head of state, accused of authoritarianism by his critics, could cross the 50% mark on Sunday, but the opposition hopes that the rebound in participation will trigger a second round.

A pro-Russian candidate against a pro-European 

Aleksandar Vucic's main rival, retired pro-European general Zdravko Ponos, hoped for "serious change" in Serbia.

"I believe in a bright future, and elections are the right way to change the situation," he said.

But for analysts, the opposition has little chance of dethroning the president or upsetting the composition of the outgoing parliament, acquired almost entirely by a pro-Vucic coalition.

The government has moved cautiously to manage the crisis in Ukraine by officially condemning Russia at the UN while refraining from any sanctions against Moscow when many Serbs support the Kremlin war.

Aleksandar Vucic is armed with other advantages.

During his long reign, he tightened his grip on all levels of power, including de facto control of institutions and almost all of the media.

He enjoys a large electoral base made up of civil servants and their relatives, according to analysts.

In the months leading up to the campaign, the president also handed out financial aid, making his critics say he was looking to "buy" votes.

With AFP

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