Opposition back on the streets to demand annulment of elections

Tensions that began following the elections in Serbia continue. The opposition in the country has once again taken to the streets in the capital, Belgrade, to hold a demonstration calling for the annulment of the early general and local elections held on December 17 last year. The protest, which began in front of the Republic Election Commission building, was organized by the "Serbia Against Violence" coalition of opposition parties and was supported by thousands of people. During the demonstration, which was held over allegations of fraud in the elections held a month ago, there were also demands for the investigation into the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, a Kosovo Serb opposition politician who was killed six years ago on January 16, 2018, to be clarified.

"IF WE GIVE UP THE FIGHT, THERE WILL NEVER BE ELECTIONS AGAIN"

Marinika Tepic, one of the leading figures of the Serbia Against Violence coalition, reiterated claims of election engineering on December 17 and stated that they are demanding the elections be repeated under new conditions. Noting that the European Parliament will begin discussing the elections in Serbia tomorrow, Tepic said, "Today, not only Europe but the entire planet knows that we caught the thieves red-handed. This is why we started a hunger strike. By calling out to Europe, the world, and the international community, we are showing what is happening in our lives and in the elections held in this country, and that one cannot speak of a fair and free election here. If we give up this fight, there will never be elections again."

"CLEANEST" ELECTION DEFENSE

Tepic had begun a hunger strike on December 18 over allegations of fraud in the elections, which resulted in a victory for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) supported by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and ended her protest 13 days later on the advice of doctors.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) announced on December 18 that serious irregularities had been detected in the elections, but President Vucic and the ruling party rejected the allegations of theft in the elections. In his statement on the matter, Vucic claimed that the elections held on December 17 were the "cleanest" elections ever held and that the "election process was almost perfect."

The Republic Election Commission also announced the final results of the elections on January 12, and the opposition's objections to the elections were rejected.