The international election observation mission led by the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, on Monday declared that the elections in Serbia were generally conducted in accordance with the law, but admitted problematic issues at polling stations. “The design of the voting screens and the layout of the PSs [polling stations] did not ensure the secrecy of the vote, which is not in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards,” an official statement said. The OSCE/PACE mission said it had received reports about the intimidating presence of members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, in and around some polling stations.
Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, head of limited election observation mission of the OSCE/ODIHR, urged the authorities to check opposition claims about potential fraud. “The parties will complain and we will see what will happen and could that lead to a re-vote in some polling stations,” Ahrens told a press conference on Monday.
Election monitoring groups and several opposition parties claimed that the elections were marked by numerous irregularities.
Representatives of several opposition parties on Monday said the opposition will form a joint legal team to scrutinize all the election material. “Elections were shaped by numerous irregularities, which influenced the expression of the free will of the people,” they wrote in a joint statement, adding that their legal team will announce its first conclusions in the next 72 hours.
Full Article: Serbian Elections Deemed Fair Despite Irregularities :: Balkan Insight.