2008 Serbia Election Results
Snap Parliamentary Vote Follows Dissolution of the National Assembly
Official results from the May 11, 2008 pre-term election reveal Boris Tadic's Coalition for a European Serbia won the election. Reports of voting irregularities at several polling stations prompted a May 18 re-vote at locations in Kraljevo, Zagubica and Srbica.
Voting Results
Voter turnout for this election was 61.33%, high for a parliamentary vote, but lower than January's presidential election.
The final results of the snap Parliamentary Election, as reported by the Serbian Electoral Commission (RIK) are (with total votes):
- Coalition for a European Serbia - 1,590,200 (38.42%)
- Serbian Radical Party - 1,219,436 (29.46%)
- Democratic Party of Serbia - New Serbia Coalition - 480,987 (11.62%)
- Socialist Party of Serbia - 313,896 (7.58%)
- Liberal Democratic Party - 216,902 (5.24%)
- Hungarian Coalition - 74,874 (1.81%)
- Bosniak List for A European Sandzak - 38,148 (0.92%)
- Serbian Strength Movement - 22,250 (0.54%)
- Coalition of Albanians of the Presevo Valley - 16,801 (0.41%)
- If It Were Up to the Village - Populist Peasant Party - 12,001 (0.29%)
- Reformist Party - 10,563 (0.26%)
- Roma Party - 9,103 (0.22%)
- My Serbia Movement - 8,879 (0.21%)
- United Vlachs of Serbia - 6,956 (0.17%)
- Civic Initiative of Goranis - 5,453 (0.13%)
- Roma for Roma - 5,115 (0.12%)
- Roma Union of Serbia - 4,732 (0.11%)
- Vojvodina Party - 4,208 (0.10%)
- People's Movement for Serbia - 3,795 (0.09%)
- Montenegrin Party - 2,923 (0.07%)
- League of the Backa Bunjevci - 2,023 (0.05%)
- Patriotic Party of the Diaspora - 1,991 (0.05%)
- Invalid Ballots - 88,148 (2.13%)
New Structure of the National Assembly
As a result of these election results, the Serbian National Assembly’s new structure is (with number of seats):
- Coalition for a European Serbia - 102
- Serbian Radical Party - 78
- Democratic Party of Serbia - New Serbia Coalition - 30
- Socialist Party of Serbia - 20
- Liberal Democratic Party - 13
- Hungarian Coalition - 4
- Bosniak List for A European Sandzak - 2
- Coalition of Albanians of the Presevo Valley - 1
Election Analysis
The campaign was a hard-fought battle between the pro-European Coalition for a European Serbia and the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party. Passions ran high, yet the election itself was conducted in a professional manner. Approximately 90 international observers monitored the election, which was considered open and democratic, with the results reflecting the free-will of the Serbian people.
Tadic's pro-European coalition may have won the election, but did not gain enough seats in the National Assembly to form a majority. Immediately following the election, Tadic’s group held talks with the Democratic Party of Serbia to form a majority coalition. Fears surfaced that the opposition groups could form an alliance and control the government.
In late June, talks broke off between the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the Democratic Party of Serbia - New Serbia Coalition. Quickly following that decision, the SPS main board overwhelmingly passed a proposal to form a majority coalition with Tadic’s Coalition for a European Serbia. The new Parliament resumes its work on July 1.
References
Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook. 2008.
Republic of Serbia Republic Electoral Commission Official Website.
"Revoting ongoing in six polling stations." B92. May 18, 2008.
"Serbia's hard-fought and generally well-organized parliamentary elections gave voters a free choice." Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). May 12, 2008.
Weaver, Matthew and Mark Rice-Oxley. "Serbia nationalists aim to block pro-EU government." Guardian News and Media. May 12, 2008.
