International observers critical of Serbia polls
(4 Apr 2022) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Belgrade - 4 April 2022 1. Wide of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) news conference 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Kyriakos Hadjiyanni, special co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observers: "Election day was smoothly conducted and peaceful overall, but despite solid preparations was marked by a number of systematic procedural deficiencies related to polling stations' layout, overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote and numerous instances of family voting." 3. OSCE logo 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kyriakos Hadjiyanni, special co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observers: "While the Republic's Election Commission published turnout figures throughout the day, it failed to announce any figures following the closing of the polls. Nonetheless, President Vucic claimed victory on election night, based on unofficial data." 5. European Parliament logo 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Thijs Reuten, head of the delegation of the European Parliament: "This last year however has been challenging for Serbia. Political tensions have been having (an) undesired divisive effect on society. The unprovoked aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has also posed a huge challenge to all European countries, including Serbia, and makes us and also this cruel war, makes us realise even more how important it is to work together to preserve security, freedom and democracy within our European family." 7. Wide of news conference 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Thijs Reuten, head of the delegation of the European Parliament: "The European Parliament and the European Union at large will closely follow the post-electoral developments in Serbia and we will be ready to support the political parties in implementing reforms that straighten democracy in your beautiful country. The Serbian citizens have made their choice, now it is up to their representatives to act in the interest of the people." 9. Wide of news conference STORYLINE: International election observers on Monday listed a series of irregularities and incidents during Serbia's election the previous day. An early official count of Serbia's national election confirmed the landslide victory of President Aleksandar Vucic and his populist party - important allies of Russia in the volatile Balkans and in Europe. Kyriakos Hadjiyanni, the leader of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) short-term observers team, told a news conference in Belgrade that election day itself was "smoothly conducted and peaceful overall." But he said it was marked by a number of "systematic procedural deficiencies related to polling stations' layout, overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote and numerous instances of family voting." The ruling party has denied vote manipulation or pressuring voters. Hadjiyanni also said Serbia's Election Commission failed to announce any figures following the closing of the polls, and that Vucic claimed victory based on unofficial data. Parliamentary elections in both Serbia and Hungary have brought landslide wins for the two countries' longtime, pro-Putin leaders - Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Their victories highlighted an underlying discord in attitudes among European nations toward the autocracies of Russia and China. As those powers seek to exert greater influence on the continent and beyond, Orban and Vucic have aimed to emulate the autocratic touch through their own style of governance in the heart of Europe. =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
