“For our children” coalition, led by President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), won 188 seats, securing a two-thirds majority in the 250-member National Assembly (see note 1). Its junior coalition partner, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), took an additional 32 seats (see note 2) while SPAS “Victory for Serbia”, led by a former water polo player Aleksandar Šapić took 11 seats. The remaining 19 seats went to ethnic minority lists (see note 3).

The 2020 elections were initially called for 26 April but were postponed to 21 June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most opposition parties that held in the outgoing legislature boycotted the 2020 elections, claiming the conditions were not fair. During the election campaign, the ruling coalition ran on the government’s records, citing GDP growth of over 4 per cent. President Vucic promised to pursue the path of EU accession. Turnout dropped from 56.07 per cent recorded in 2016 to 48.93 per cent.

Shortly after the elections, on 7 July, President Vucic announced a ban of gatherings of more than five people in the capital to curb a spike in the coronavirus cases. The announcement triggered street protests. Many protesters criticized the decision to hold the elections in the middle of the pandemic and the spike in COVID-19 cases. On 8 July, protesters broke into the National Assembly, prompting police to intervene. The newly elected legislature was convened on 3 August 2020.

Note 1:
Mr. Vucic, then Prime Minister, led the “Serbia Wins” coalition in 2016 (which took 131 seats). He was elected President in 2017 and succeeded Mr. Tomislav Nikolić (independent).

Note 2:
The SPS led by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic was in an electoral coalition with the United Serbia (JS) –Dragan Markovic Palma in 2020.

Note 3:
On 8 February 2020, the National Assembly revised the Law on the Election of Members of Parliament. It lowered the threshold to win parliamentary representation from 5 to 3 per cent. The law also stipulates the quotients of national minority lists shall increase by 35 per cent, which makes it easier for minority lists to win seats in the National Assembly.