Aleksandar Vucic's List Wins Nis Election Amid Opposition Gains

In the latest municipal elections in Nis, Serbia, the 'Aleksandar Vucic - Nis Tomorrow' list emerged victorious, securing 44.31% of the votes and 30 seats in the City Assembly. This election result marks a significant win for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in one of Serbia's key cities.

The election results, based on 100% of votes from 197 polling stations, revealed a competitive race. The Dr Dragan Milic Civic Group came in second with 24.49% of the votes, winning 16 seats. The 'We Choose Nis - Djordje Stankovic' list secured 16.12% of the votes, equivalent to 10 seats. The 'United-Hope for Nis-Miodrag Stankovic-Nova' list and the 'Dr Savo Manojlovic-I Am Nis, Too-Get Going - Change' list each secured around 3.9% of the votes, earning 2 seats each. The 'Russian Party-Russia and Nis in The Heart-Tihomir Peric' list won 1.1% of the votes, securing 1 seat.

Dragan Milic, a prominent cardiologist and opposition candidate, expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating, *'I have no doubt at all that the citizens of Nis would say 'enough is enough'.'* He ruled out any form of cooperation with the SNS and promised to make Nis a *'normal place'* with a *'richer, better, more decent and, above all, fairer city.'*

Despite the opposition's gains, Dragoslav Pavlovic, the SNS lead candidate in Nis, declared a *'convincing victory'* and predicted forming the local government in partnership with the Russian Party. *'We have achieved a convincing victory,'* Pavlovic said, emphasizing the strength of their electoral performance.

Why this matters: The local election results in Serbia have significant implications for the country's political landscape and could influence the outcome of future elections. The opposition's gains in Nis may signal a shift in voter sentiment, potentially leading to a more competitive political environment.

The local elections held on June 2, 2024, saw the SNS dominating in other major cities as well. In Belgrade, the 'Aleksandar Vucic - Belgrade Tomorrow' list won 52.8% of the votes, securing 64 mandates. Similarly, in Novi Sad, the 'Aleksandar Vucic - Novi Sad Tomorrow' list won 53.1% of the votes, securing 46 mandates.

The local elections in Serbia are seen as a critical test of President Aleksandar Vucic's ruling party's dominance. While the SNS secured significant victories in Belgrade and Novi Sad, the opposition's performance in Nis indicates a growing challenge to the ruling party's control in some regions.

The official results are expected to be published soon, but the current projections from Cesid and Ipsos provide a clear snapshot of the electoral scenario. The opposition's gains in Nis, although not enough to secure a majority, reflect a shift in voter sentiment that could have broader implications for future elections in Serbia.

Key Takeaways

• Aleksandar Vucic's list wins 44.31% of votes in Nis, Serbia's local election.
• Opposition's Dr Dragan Milic Civic Group comes in second with 24.49% of votes.
• SNS dominates local elections in Belgrade and Novi Sad, but faces challenge in Nis.
• Opposition's gains in Nis signal shift in voter sentiment, potentially impacting future elections.
• Local election results have significant implications for Serbia's political landscape.