Serbia’s ruling populists say weekend elections were fair despite international criticism, protests

By JOVANA GEC
Associated Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s ruling populists are insisting that weekend snap elections were free and fair despite criticism from international observers who noted multiple irregularities and unjust conditions during the vote. Political tensions in Serbia soared over the snap parliamentary and local election on Sunday. Several thousand people rallied on Monday to protest alleged fraud at the ballot for municipal authorities in Belgrade. Early results showed the triumph of President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party. But its main opponents, the Serbia Against Violence alliance, saz they were robbed of a victory in Belgrade.