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Serbian Ruling Party Scores Landslide Victory in General Elections

VOA News

   Serbia'sProgressive Partyand its coalition partnerswon over 60% of the
   votein Sunday's elections,boycotted by major opposition parties.

   PresidentAleksandar Vucic, the party leader,toldjubilant supportersthat
   he did not expect such a landslide victory.

   "I have long been in politics, but I have never experienced such a
   moment.Tonightwe have gained the tremendous trust of the people, the
   biggest ever in Serbia, under conditions where not many believed in it.
   We got a warning from the people that we have to be even more
   responsible, more serious, more diligent and that we have to make best
   possible results for our people and our citizens,"Vucic said.

   In the new parliament,theSerbian Progressive Partywill holdabout190 out
   of 250 total seats.

   "We have won everywhere, where we have been losing (before). We have
   won in every place abroad,'¯where we have never been winning in the
   past,"Vucic said.

   Serbia became the first country in EuropeSundayto hold general
   elections during the COVID-19pandemic.

   The elections, initially scheduled for April, were postponed because of
   thecoronavirus outbreak.'¯

   The turnout amongthe6.6 millionvoterseligibleto cast ballots for the
   250 seatsinparliament and for local governing bodieswaslower than in
   previous elections.

   Several main opposition parties boycottedthe vote, claimingalack of
   free and fair conditions and accusing Vucic ofdominatingthe election
   campaignthrough his controlofthe mainstream media. Vucicdenied the
   accusations.'¯

   However,some smaller groups decided to participate, saying the boycott
   would only help Vucic's party.'¯

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