2024 Serbian Local Elections

Local elections were held in a majority of cities and municipalities in Serbia (excluding the disputed territory of Kosovo) on 2 June 2024.

Background

Initially, the Serbian government planned to hold a local election only for the City Assembly of Belgrade on 2 June, with the other local elections taking place later in the year. The Belgrade vote was required due to the city assembly's failure to constitute itself after the 2023 Belgrade City Assembly election, while the other elections were scheduled to take place in accordance with Serbia's regular local electoral cycle. Ana Brnabić, the president of the national assembly, contended that holding all local elections on 2 June would require a change in Serbia's law on local elections and would unfairly restrict the mandate of those elected in the last regular local election in 2020. Following extended controversy, however, the law was amended on 23 April and local elections were announced for various cities and municipalities on 26 April.

Electoral process

With the exception of Belgrade, the cities and municipalities of Serbia that held off-year local elections in 2021, 2022, and 2023 participated in the 2024 vote. As several municipalities in Central Serbia held off-year elections in 2023, the overall number of jurisdictions holding local elections in 2024 was significantly lower than in the previous election cycle.

All local elections in Serbia are held under proportional representation. Mayors are not directly elected but are instead chosen by elected members of the local assemblies. The electoral threshold for assembly representation is three per cent (of all votes, not only of valid votes), although parties representing national minority communities are exempt from this requirement.

Parties

Serbia's governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and its allies participated fully in the elections. The opposition parties were by contrast divided on their strategy. Among the parties of the ''Serbia Against Violence'' (SPN) coalition, the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), Serbia Centre (SRCE), and Together (''Zajedno'') announced a boycott in most jurisdictions, stating that no adequate guarantees were provided that the elections would be free and fair and that there was insufficient time for the situation to change.

As against this, the People's Movement of Serbia (NPS), the Green–Left Front (ZLF), the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), Ecological Uprising (EU), and the New Face of Serbia (NLS) participated in the vote. Although the Democratic Party (DS) voted in favour of a boycott, it also decided to adopt the position of the majority of the opposition parties, and on that basis it participated in the election as well. Outside the SPN coalition, the parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NADA) alliance chose to boycott the elections in most jurisdictions. Other opposition parties, including Dveri, chose to participate.

On 26 April 2024, SSP leader Dragan Đilas said that although his party would be boycotting the election in most jurisdictions, it would not discourage citizens from voting.

Incidents

Opposition parties accused the SNS of organising polling stations, leading to clashes in Belgrade and Novi Sad as opposition activists tried to enter suspected SNS venues. Ana Brnabić said on X social media platform that the SNS had set up “call centers” to contact supporters and urge them to vote. The Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability, a non-governmental organisation, recorded incidents of organized voting, vote-buying, violations of vote secrecy, and the presence of unauthorized persons at polling stations, which prompted them to file criminal charges.

Results

The Serbian Progressive Party's alliance won the elections in most jurisdictions. In the election for the Belgrade city assembly, the SNS alliance won a majority of seats, followed by the opposition ''Kreni Promeni'' (Go-Change).

Opposition parties have charged that the Serbian Progressive Party falsified the results in Niš and New Belgrade in order to claim a narrow majority of seats in both jurisdictions.

Belgrade

City of Belgrade

Municipalities of Belgrade

Local elections were held in all seventeen of Belgrade's municipalities.

= Barajevo

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Barajevo:

Of the twenty-five candidates elected on the ''Barajevo Tomorrow'' list, twenty were endorsed by Serbian Progressive Party, two by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Movement of Socialists, the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, and the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the six candidates elected on the ''We Choose Barajevo'' list, two each were endorsed by the Green–Left Front and the New Face of Serbia, and one each by the Democratic Party and the People's Movement of Serbia.

Bratoljub Stanisavljević, who was elected with an endorsement from the Progressives, was chosen as the municipality's mayor on 10 July 2024.

= Čukarica

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Čukarica:

Of the twenty-six candidates elected on the ''Čukarica Tomorrow'' list, twenty-two were endorsed by Serbian Progressive Party, two by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers and the Serbian Radical Party. Parliamentarian Vladimir Orlić, a vice-president of the Progressive Party, was elected from the lead position on the list.

Of the fifteen candidates elected on the ''We Choose Čukarica'' list, six were endorsed by the Green–Left Front, four by the People's Movement of Serbia, three by the Democratic Party, and one each by the Movement of Free Citizens and the New Face of Serbia.

Nikola Aritonović of the Serbian Progressive Party was chosen as mayor of the municipality on 10 July 2024.

= Grocka

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Grocka:

Of the twenty-seven candidates elected on the ''Grocka Tomorrow'' list, twenty-one were endorsed by Serbian Progressive Party, three by the Socialist Party of Serbia, two by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, and one by the Independent Serbian Party.

Of the five candidates elected on the ''We Choose Grocka'' list, two each were endorsed by the Democratic Party and the People's Movement of Serbia and one by the Movement of Free Citizens.

Saša Čaprić of the Serbian Progressive Party was chosen as mayor of the municipality on 9 July 2024.

= Lazarevac

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Lazarevac:

Of the thirty-seven candidates elected on the ''Lazarevac Tomorrow'' list, twenty-seven were endorsed by Serbian Progressive Party, four by the Socialist Party of Serbia, three by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, and one each by Healthy Serbia, the Movement of Socialists, and the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the seven candidates elected on the ''We Choose Lazarevac'' list, three were endorsed by the Democratic Party, two by the People's Movement of Serbia, and one each by the Movement of Free Citizens and the New Face of Serbia.

Tomislav Rikanović of the Progressive Party was chosen as mayor on 10 July 2024.

= Mladenovac

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Mladenovac:

Of the thirty-eight candidates elected on the ''Mladenovac Tomorrow'' list, thirty-two were endorsed by Serbian Progressive Party, three by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, the Serbian Radical Party, and United Serbia.

The candidates elected on the ''Agreement for Mladenovac'' list did not have specific party endorsements.

Of the six candidates elected on the ''We Choose Mladenovac'' list, two each were endorsed by the Green–Left Front and the People's Movement of Serbia, and one each by the Democratic Party and the New Face of Serbia.

Bogdan Vuksanović of the Progressive Party was chosen as mayor for a term beginning on 9 July 2024.

= New Belgrade

=
The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of New Belgrade (as posted by the municipal election commission) are as follows. Opposition parties charged electoral fraud once the preliminary results were made public, with Jelena Jerinić saying that their data showed the combined opposition winning a majority of seats.

Of the twenty-five candidates elected on the ''New Belgrade Tomorrow'' list, seventeen were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, three by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Movement of Socialists, PUPS, the Serbian Radical Party, the Social Democratic Party of Serbia, and the Society for Cerebral and Infantile Paralysis New Belgrade. Incumbent delegate Marija Zdravković of the Progressives was re-elected from the lead position on the list.

Of the nine candidates elected on the ''We Choose New Belgrade'' list, four were endorsed by the Green–Left Front, two each by the Democratic Party and the People's Movement of Serbia, and one by the Movement of Free Citizens.

Ivana Nikolić of the Serbian Progressive Party (not to be confused with the former Serbian Progressive Party parliamentarian of the same name) was chosen as mayor on 16 July 2024.

= Obrenovac

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Obrenovac:

Of the thirty-eight candidates elected on the ''Obrenovac Tomorrow'' list, thirty were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, four by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by Healthy Serbia, the Movement of Socialists, the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, and the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the eight candidates elected on the ''We Choose Obrenovac'' list, three were endorsed by the Democratic Party, two each by the New Face of Serbia and the People's Movement of Serbia, and one by the Green–Left Front.

Milorad Grčić of the Progressive Party was chosen as mayor on 10 July 2024.

= Palilula

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Palilula:

Of the thirty-three candidates elected on the ''Palilula Tomorrow'' list, twenty-eight were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, three by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers and the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the fourteen candidates elected on the ''We Choose Palilula'' list, six were endorsed by the Green–Left Front, five by the People's Movement of Serbia, two by the Democratic Party, and one by the Movement of Free Citizens.

Ivana Medić of the Progressive Party was chosen as mayor on 12 July 2024.

= Rakovica

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Rakovica:

Of the thirty candidates elected on the ''Rakovica Tomorrow'' list, twenty-three were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, four by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the PUPS, the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, and the Serbian Radical Party. Progressive Party parliamentarian Dušan Stojiljković appeared in the thirty-fourth position on the list and was not elected.

Of the fourteen candidates elected on the ''We Choose Rakovica'' list, five were endorsed by the Green–Left Front, four by the Democratic Party, three by the People's Movement of Serbia, and one each by the Movement of Free Citizens and the New Face of Serbia.

Both of the candidates elected on the ''Rakovica Is Our Home'' list were endorsed by the People's Party.

= Savski Venac

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Savski Venac:

Of the eighteen candidates elected on the ''Savski Venac Tomorrow'' list, fifteen were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, two by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one by the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the sixteen candidates elected on the ''We Choose Savski Venac'' list, five each were endorsed by the Green–Left Front and the People's Movement of Serbia, three by the Democratic Party, two by the Movement of Free Citizens, and one by the New Face of Serbia.

The delegate elected on the ''Enough Politics'' list held an endorsement from the Civic Party of Greeks of Serbia.

In the aftermath of the vote, it was noted that the Progressive Party's alliance and the combined opposition of ''We Choose Savski Venac'' and ''For a Green Savski Venac'' each won eighteen seats, leaving the delegate from the Civic Party of Greeks of Serbia in the role of kingmaker. Incumbent mayor Miloš Vidović of the Progressive Party was ultimately confirmed for another term in office on 12 July 2024.

= Sopot

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sopot:

Of the twenty-three candidates elected on the ''Sopot Tomorrow'' list, twenty were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, two by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one by the Serbian Radical Party.

Živorad Milosavljević of the Progressive Party, the longest continuously serving mayor in Serbia, was confirmed for his eleventh consecutive term in office on 11 July 2024.

= Stari Grad

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Stari Grad:

Of the twenty-three candidates elected on the ''We Choose Stari Grad'' list, ten were endorsed by the Green–Left Front, six by the People's Movement of Serbia, three each by the Democratic Party and the Movement of Free Citizens, and one by the New Face of Serbia.

Of the twenty-one candidates elected on the ''Stari Grad Tomorrow'' list, sixteen were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, three by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers and the Serbian Radical Party.

The candidate elected on the ''Key to Victory'' list was endorsed by the People's Party.

The results of the election left Marko Bastać in the role of kingmaker. He ultimately aligned his political movement with the Progressives, and on 9 July 2024 he was chosen as president (i.e., speaker) of the municipal assembly. Incumbent mayor Radoslav Marjanović was confirmed for another term in office on 31 July 2024, in a vote that was boycotted by the opposition.

= Surčin

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Surčin:

Of the twenty-six candidates elected on the ''Surčin Tomorrow'' list, twenty-one were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, three by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Serbian Party Oathkeepers and the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the five candidates elected on the ''We Choose Surčin'' list, three were endorsed by the Democratic Party and one each by the New Face of Serbia and the People's Movement of Serbia.

Miloš Dangubić of the Serbian Progressive Party was chosen as the municipality's mayor on 10 July 2024.

= Voždovac

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Voždovac:

Of the thirty-three candidates elected on the ''Voždovac Tomorrow'' list, twenty-five were endorsed by the Serbian Progressive Party, five by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and one each by the Movement of Socialists, the Serbian Party Oathkeepers, and the Serbian Radical Party.

Of the seven candidates elected on the ''We Choose Voždovac'' list, three were endorsed by the People's Movement of Serbia and two each by the Democratic Party and the Green–Left Front.

Bojana Jakšić of the Progressive Party was chosen as mayor on 11 July 2024.

= Vračar

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Vračar:

Initial results showed the ''We Choose Vračar'' coalition winning twenty-eight mandates and ''Vračar Vračarians'' winning two; ''We Choose Vračar'' has charged that one of their mandates was illegitimately shifted in a review of the ballots. The opposition "We Choose Vračar," "People's List," and Enough Is Enough lists hold thirty-one seats, while the governing coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party has the potential remain in power with the support of thirty-two delegates.

= Zemun

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zemun:

= Zvezdara

=
Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zvezdara:

Vojvodina

North Bačka District

= Subotica

=
Results of the election for the City Assembly of Subotica:

South Bačka District

= Novi Sad

=
Preliminary results of the election for the City Assembly of Novi Sad:

Šumadija and Western Serbia

Šumadija District

= Kragujevac

=
There was no city election in Kragujevac in 2024. The previous election had taken place in 2023.

Southern and Eastern Serbia

Nišava District

In the Nišava District, local elections were held for the City Assembly of Niš, the assemblies in all five of Niš's constituent municipalities, and the assemblies of Aleksinac and Svrljig.

Elections were not held in Doljevac, Gadžin Han, Merošina, and Ražanj. In each of these municipalities, the last local election took place in in 2023.

= Niš

=
The official preliminary results of the election for the City Assembly of Niš (as posted by the city election commission) are listed below. The results indicate that the Progressive Party's alliance will command a majority in the assembly, supported by the one delegate from the Russian Party.

Opposition parties charged electoral fraud and contended that the four opposition lists that crossed the threshold (i.e., Dragan Milić's list, ''We Choose Niš'', Go-Change, and NADA) actually won a narrow majority victory with 31 seats. The opposition noted that initial projections showed the SNS alliance with only 29 seats and said that their data confirmed the figure. Dragan Milić called on the SNS to "admit what the whole of Serbia knows, which is that you lost Niš."

Although Dveri was not officially part of the ''We Choose Niš'' alliance, its local board president Tamara Milenković Kerković was given the second position on the alliance's list. Formally, her endorsement was from the People's Movement of Serbia.

Niš: Crveni Krst

The preliminary results of the election for the Municipality Assembly of Crveni Krst are listed below. Repeat voting has been called for certain polling stations on June 23."OIK Niš: U nedelju, 23. juna ponavljanje izbora na opštini Crveni krst"
''Tanjug'', 17 June 2024, accessed 19 June 2024.

Niš: Medijana

Repeated elections took place in two polling stations in Medijana on 16 June. Following the repeat vote, the election commission announced that the combined opposition won 16 seats as against 11 for the SNS coalition:

Niš: Niška Banja

Results of the election for the Municipality Assembly of Niška Banja:

Niš: Palilula

Results of the election for the Municipality Assembly of Palilula:

Niš: Pantelej

Results of the election for the Municipality Assembly of Pantelej:

= Aleksinac

=
Results of the election for the Municipality Assembly of Aleksinac:

= Svrljig

=
Results of the election for the Municipality Assembly of Svrljig:

Podunavlje District

There were no local elections held in the Podunavlje District in 2024. The last election in Smederevska Palanka was held in 2022, and the last elections in Smederevo and Velika Plana were held in 2023.

References

{{Serbian elections

Local
Local elections
Local elections in Serbia