Polling stations closed in Serbia, numerous complaints about election irregularities

(Patria) - Polling stations for local elections in Belgrade and 88 local communities across Serbia closed tonight at 8 PM after an election day marked by numerous opposition claims that the process was overshadowed by electoral manipulation.

The opposition reported the most allegations of election irregularities in Belgrade and Novi Sad, with these accusations relating to the maintenance of parallel voter lists, the organization of so-called call centers in public institutions, and vote buying.

The biggest incident was recorded in Novi Sad when a group of opposition members attempted to enter the Novi Sad Fairgrounds, where the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) had set up a call center.

They were prevented from doing so by police intervention, and opposition representatives claimed that SNS activists activated a fire extinguisher and tear gas from the call center premises.

Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić stated that the SNS did not have parallel voter lists, but rather that these were supporters of the party and its coalition partners, and that it was legitimate for them to call voters by phone on election day and ask them to go to the polls.

Local elections, in addition to those in Belgrade and all Belgrade municipalities, were held today in dozens of cities and municipalities across Serbia.

Elections for city assembly councilors were held in Valjevo, Vršac, Zrenjanin, Jagodina, Kikinda, Niš, Novi Sad, Pančevo, Požarevac, Sombor, Sremska Mitrovica, Subotica, Užice, and Čačak.

Voting also took place for 52 municipal assemblies: Ada, Aleksinac, Alibunar, Apatin, Arilje, Bač, Bačka Palanka, Bačka Topola, Bački Petrovac, Bela Crkva, Beočin, Bečej, Boljevac, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vrbas, Vrnjačka Banja, Gornji Milanovac, Žabalj, Žitište, Ivanjica, Inđija, Irig, Kanjiža, Kovačica, Kovin, Mali Iđoš, Nova Varoš, Nova Crnja, Novi Bečej, Novi Kneževac, Opovo, Odžaci, Pećinci, Plandište, Preševo, Raška, Ruma, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Senta, Sjenica, Srbobran, Sremski Karlovci, Stara Pazova, Surdulica, Temerin, Titel, Tutin, Čajetina, Čoka, and Šid.

Councilors were also elected in 17 Belgrade municipalities - Čukarica, Novi Beograd, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski venac, Stari grad, Voždovac, Vračar, Zemun, Zvezdara, Barajevo, Grocka, Lazarevac, Mladenovac, Obrenovac, Sopot, Surčin.

In Niš, elections were held for councilors in five municipalities of that city - Medijana, Palilula, Crveni krst, Pantelej, and Niška Banja, and in Požarevac also for the city municipality of Kostolac.