Local Elections in Zaječar and Kosjerić: Long-Term Observation Report Summary

While the authorities formally claim to support the implementation of ODIHR recommendations, in practice they continue to foster markedly undemocratic electoral conditions, once again evident in the campaigns in two local communities. Moreover, the conditions have deteriorated compared to previous elections, as the campaigns in both Zaječar and Kosjerić were marked by the systemic use of both propaganda and physical violence.

These are the first elections held in the context of a historic wave of social mobilization, sparked by the collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad that resulted in the death of 16 people and led to ongoing student and civic protests that have continued for more than half a year.

The protests triggered more effective grassroots organizing, leading to a more serious opposition challenge in the elections. In response, both national and local authorities escalated their mobilization efforts and resorted to the use of state and public resources, along with other forms of electoral manipulation. The most influential media outlets in the country ran a campaign in support of local ruling party lists. 

Pressure on voters in Zaječar (47,357 registered voters) and Kosjerić (8,897 registered voters) extended beyond the “normalized” practices of vote buying and voter intimidation into a rise in verbal and physical violence on the ground.

CRTA’s election observation mission documented 71 incidents during the final three weeks of the campaign involving targeting and intimidation through smear campaigns, verbal and physical violence against opposition activists, journalists, and citizens; 90 appearances by government officials in support of local ruling party campaigns; 70 cases of potential misuse of public resources, official functions, symbols, and activities for party promotion; and nearly 70 instances of misleading political advertising favoring the ruling party, containing inappropriate and dehumanizing rhetoric in the period immediately before and during the campaign. More than one-third of all government officials’ campaign activities nationwide in the final weeks took place in Zaječar and Kosjerić.

Years of systemic manipulation of institutions and laws, combined with the persistent promotion of impunity, have rendered elections in Serbia undemocratic and have encouraged increasingly frequent use of illegitimate and illegal electoral engineering to benefit those in power.

Read the summary of the report below or by clicking here.