The Serbian Progressive Party won the repeated elections at polling station 25 – Elan, securing 197 votes, while United for Kosjerić won 153 votes.
A turnout of 81.5 percent was recorded, meaning 354 out of 434 registered voters cast their ballots.
The SNS list won a total of 50.16 percent of the votes, or 14 mandates in the local elections in Kosjerić, while the “United for Kosjerić” list won 47.62 percent or 13 mandates, announced the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) on July 1st, after the repeated elections.
According to these results, the Russian Party won 0.64 percent.
In the elections on June 8th, the ruling coalition of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) won only 51 votes more than the opposition list “United for Kosjerić.”
With this, the SNS secured a one-mandate advantage, enough to form a government.
On June 8th, the opposition won 220 votes at this polling station, the ruling party 125, and the Russian Party, which did not cross the threshold, zero.
The vote was repeated because the Higher Court in Užice upheld the appeal of the “United for Kosjerić” electoral list and annulled the results at this polling station.
It was determined that one voter cast a ballot despite not being registered at that location.
Local elections in Kosjerić and Zaječar were the first since the beginning of months-long student blockades and social unrest in Serbia.
Kosjerić is the first place where students officially called for the unification of the opposition and gave it their support.
Students are also demanding the calling of early parliamentary elections in Serbia.
How Was the Day in Kosjerić?
Although the elections at the polling station itself proceeded relatively peacefully, according to the election observation organization Crta, several incidents were recorded throughout the day.
An hour before the closing of the polling station, bikers who arrived in Kosjerić from other cities started riding through the crowd, reports the daily newspaper Danas.
Around 4 PM, an incident occurred between local activists and citizens, as well as a group of unidentified men with caps, who were joined by another group of about 30 people, which led to shouting, chanting, and an exchange of insults, according to Crta.
Soon after the incident broke out, the police arrived, and the group of men quickly dispersed but remained near the polling station.
At the beginning of voting, electoral irregularities were noted, such as individual photographing of ballots behind the screen, but with a reaction from the polling committee.
Crta announced that groups of people “with caps and tattoos” were gathering around the polling station, and that bikers on motorcycles with obscured or missing license plates were circling the area.
They described the situation the day before the repeat vote in Kosjerić as “dramatic” and added that alleged members of the disbanded “Red Berets” were intimidating and physically assaulting citizens.
The Red Berets are one of the names for the Special Operations Unit (JSO) within the State Security Department, whose commander, Milorad Ulemek Legija, is serving a 40-year sentence on multiple grounds, including being one of the main organizers of the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.
“Free elections are not possible in an atmosphere of fear,” Crta announced.
On Monday evening, a minor incident occurred between locals and a group of unknown young men, but the police quickly intervened, while on Sunday, an activist was attacked, Danas reports.
MORE TOPICS:
COLOMBIA SENT A PROTEST NOTE: Serbian police arrested famous professor; Accused him of terrorism!
Source: Danas; Foto: ATA Images