Serbia's Local Elections Marred by Pressure on Public Sector Employees and Abuse of State Resources

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has reported significant irregularities in the local elections held in 89 cities and municipalities in Serbia. The elections, which took place on June 2, 2024, were negatively impacted by widespread pressure on public sector employees, misuse of state resources, and biased media coverage favoring the ruling coalition.

Lamberto Zanier, head of the ODIHR Monitoring Mission, highlighted that while the elections were well conducted and offered various political alternatives, the process was marred by serious issues. These included the misuse of public resources, media bias, and pressure on public sector employees, which undermined the fairness of the election.

"While these elections were well run, we nonetheless witnessed a dominance of the ruling party and misuse of public resources," said Zanier. He also welcomed the creation of a working group to implement ODIHR's recommendations to improve the election process, emphasizing the need for commitment from all political spectrum members.

The ODIHR report outlined several key concerns, including the widespread pressure on public sector employees, the misuse of state resources, and a media environment that heavily favored the ruling coalition. The media in Serbia is diverse but highly polarized, with public service media and national private broadcasters favoring public officials and the ruling parties. Coverage of the opposition on private channels was often negative, limiting the information available to voters.

Free and fair elections are vital for a healthy democracy, and irregularities in the electoral process can undermine trust in institutions and the rule of law. If left unaddressed, these issues can lead to further erosion of democratic norms and potentially destabilize the region.

Election day itself proceeded smoothly overall, but there were issues related to the secrecy of the vote, procedural problems, and allegations of pressure and vote-buying. ODIHR observers noted several instances of serious irregularities, including vote buying, pressure on voters, and procedural shortcomings such as group voting and proxy voting.

Despite the well-run nature of the elections, the dominance of the ruling party and the fragmentation of the opposition reduced the competitiveness of the elections. The legal framework for democratic elections in Serbia is considered adequate, but gaps and inconsistencies remain, particularly regarding the misuse of public resources and oversight of media and campaign finance.

A parliamentary working group was set up in April to address previous ODIHR recommendations, but no draft proposals were agreed upon ahead of election day. Although steps were taken to reduce tensions following concerns about the accuracy of the voter register from previous elections, they were considered insufficient.

Ultimately, while the local elections in Serbia were well conducted, they were significantly marred by pressure on public sector employees, misuse of state resources, and biased media coverage. These issues highlight the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure fair and competitive elections in the future.

Key Takeaways

• ODIHR reports significant irregularities in Serbia's local elections, including pressure on public sector employees.
• Misuse of state resources and biased media coverage favored the ruling coalition.
• Election day proceeded smoothly, but issues with vote secrecy, procedures, and pressure/vote-buying were reported.
• Legal framework for democratic elections in Serbia is adequate, but gaps remain in oversight of media and campaign finance.
• Comprehensive reforms are needed to ensure fair and competitive elections in the future.