Serbians head to polls in Europe’s first post-lockdown election

Serbians go to polls on Sunday to elect a brand new parliament in Europe’s first nationwide election since coronavirus lockdowns took impact some three months in the past, with the ruling conservatives seen successful a cushty majority.

Polling stations shall be geared up with face masks and hand sanitisers for the usage of the nation’s 5.5 million voters, a lot of whom are anticipated to skip voting – partly resulting from fears of turning into contaminated.

Turnout may be hit by the boycott marketing campaign of some opposition events, who say the vote is not going to be free or truthful resulting from President Aleksandar Vucic’s agency grip over the media.

According to the newest opinion polls, Vucic’s conservative Serbian Peoples’ Party (SNS) is about to garner about 50% of the vote, boosted by widespread public approval over the federal government’s dealing with of the pandemic.

Vucic’s coalition companion, the Socialist Party, is anticipated to come back second with about 10%, whereas an opposition centre-right occasion led by Aleksandar Sapic, the mayor of a Belgrade municipality, is tipped to come back third.

Vucic himself shouldn’t be up for re-election, however the opposition events which can be boycotting the ballot accuse him of utilizing his place as president to advertise his occasion.

Serbia, which has a inhabitants of seven.2 million, has to date reported 12,803 confirmed circumstances of Covid-19 and 260 deaths. It was among the many first European international locations to start out opening its borders on May 22 and all lockdown curbs have since been lifted.

Still, persistent well being issues will preserve some voters at residence, particularly amongst higher-risk teams.

“A number of voters above 65 will not vote because they are afraid they could get infected,” Bojan Klacar, government director of the CESID pollster advised Reuters.

Voters largely again efforts by Vucic’s ruling coalition to push for Serbian membership of the European Union whereas sustaining robust ties with Russia and China.

But the long run authorities will face growing EU and U.S. strain to recognise the independence of Serbia’s former province of Kosovo, a transfer seen as key for regional stability. (Editing by Helen Popper)