2022 Belgrade City Assembly election

Local elections were held in Belgrade on 3 April 2022 to elect members of the City Assembly.^[1] Alongside the election, national-level general elections^[1] and local elections in 12 other towns and municipalities were held on the same day.^[2]

2022 Belgrade City Assembly election

← 2018 3 April 2022 2023 →
All 110 seats in the City Assembly 56 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	57.85% 6.55 pp
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– SNS coalition Aleksandar Šapić 38.83 48 −28 UZPB Vladeta Janković 21.78 26 0 Moramo Dobrica Veselinović 11.04 13 +13 SPS–JS–ZS Toma Fila 7.14 8 0 NADA Vojislav Mihailović 6.44 7 +7 SSZ Mladen Kočica 3.57 4 +4 Dveri–POKS Radmila Vasić 3.44 4 +4 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Results by municipality Mayor before Mayor after Zoran Radojičić Independent Aleksandar Šapić SNS

Background

Protests outside the National Assembly building in July 2020

Following the vote of no confidence in 2013, Dragan Đilas was dismissed as mayor,^[3] and a temporary body was set up by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), who has ruled Belgrade since then.^[4] The current session of the City Assembly was elected in 2018, after SNS, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and United Serbia (JS) formed a majority.^[5] Zoran Radojičić, an independent endorsed by SNS, was elected mayor, succeeding Siniša Mali, while Goran Vesić was elected deputy mayor.^[6] The 2018 election also marked the return of Đragan Đilas to politics,^[7] and his list ended up gaining 26 seats, while the list led by Aleksandar Šapić won 12 seats.^[5][8]

Later that year, the Alliance for Serbia (SzS) was formed by Đilas, along with Vuk Jeremić, Zoran Lutovac, and Boško Obradović.^[9] It was a major opposition alliance, that also played a key role in the 2018–2020 protests,^[10] and it boycotted the 2020 parliamentary election.^[11] Municipal elections were held in Belgrade after the parliamentary election, in which, SNS won a majority in all 16 Belgrade municipalities except New Belgrade,^[12] where the Serbian Patriotic Alliance (SPAS), which was led by Aleksandar Šapić, managed to form a local government, third time in a row.^[13] During that period, protests erupted in Belgrade over the announcement of the reimplementation of the curfew and government's allegedly poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The demonstrators took to the streets, stormed the National Assembly building, and clashed with the police.^[14] The clashes and riots continued for the next few days, while the police used excessive force.^[15]

In May 2021, Šapić merged his party into SNS, after which he was promoted to vice president of the party.^[16] A series of environmental protests have been held in Belgrade as early as January 2021, although since September 2021, the protests have garnered greater attention,^[17] which led to roadblocks on the Gazela Bridge in November and December 2021.^[18]

Electoral system

Local elections in Belgrade are held under a proportional representation system.^[19] Voters in Belgrade will determine the composition of the City Assembly, which in turn elects the mayor.^[20] Shortly prior the election, parties must submit a ballot list and their ballot leader.^[21] One mandate of a mayor and an elected member of the City Assembly lasts four years.^[21]

On 15 February 2022, Ivica Dačić, the president of the National Assembly, called the local elections.^[22]

Political parties

See also: List of political parties in Serbia

The table below lists political parties represented in the City Assembly of Belgrade after the 2018 election.

Name		Ideology	Political position	Leader	2018 result
					Votes (%)	Seats
	SNS–led coalition	Populism	Big tent	Zoran Radojičić	44.99%	64 / 110
	Dragan Đilas list	Anti-corruption	Centre	Dragan Đilas	18.93%	26 / 110
	Aleksandar Šapić – Mayor	National conservatism	Right-wing	Aleksandar Šapić	9.01%	12 / 110
	SPS–JS	Populism	Centre-left	Aleksandar Antić	6.13%	8 / 110

Pre-election composition

Party		Seats
	Serbian Progressive Party	76
	Party of Freedom and Justice	13
	SPS–JS	8
	Civic Democratic Forum	6
	People's Party	5
	Movement of Free Citizens	2

Electoral lists

The following are the official electoral lists published by the Belgrade City Electoral Commission (GIK).^[23]

#	Ballot name		Ballot carrier	Main ideology	Political position
1		Aleksandar Vučić — Together We Can Do Everything[24] SNS, SDPS, PS, PUPS, PSS–BK, SNP, SPO, VMSZ, Samostalna	Aleksandar Šapić	Populism	Big tent
2		Ivica Dačić — Prime Minister of Serbia, Toma Fila — Mayor of Belgrade[25] SPS, JS, ZS	Toma Fila	Populism	Big tent
3		Dr Vojislav Šešelj — Serbian Radical Party[25] SRS	Miljko Ristić	Ultranationalism	Far-right
4		Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski — Serbian Party Oathkeepers[26] SSZ	Mladen Kočica	Ultranationalism	Far-right
5		Vladeta Janković — United for the Victory of Belgrade[26] SSP, NS, DS, PSG, PZP, VMDK, USS Sloga, SMS, VS, PSS	Vladeta Janković	Anti-corruption	Big tent
6		Dr Miloš Jovanović — NADA for Serbia — Serbian Coalition NADA — National Democratic Alternative — Democratic Party of Serbia — For the Kingdom of Serbia — Vojislav Mihailović[27][28] DSS, ZKS,[a] BGS	Vojislav Mihailović	National conservatism	Right-wing
7		We Must – For a Better City – Do not let Belgrade drown – Action – Ecological Uprising – Ćuta – Choice for Our Municipality – Solidarity Platform – Forum of Romani People of Serbia – Dobrica Veselinović[29] NDB, ZZS, EU, IZNO, Solidarity, FRS	Dobrica Veselinović	Green politics	Centre-left to left-wing
8		Duško Vujošević — Boris Tadić — Come on People — Social Democratic Party — New Party — 1 of 5 million — Tolerance of Serbia — United Green Movement of Serbia — Bosniak Civic Party — Party of Montenegrins[30] SDS, Nova, #1od5m, TS, UPZS, BGS, SC	Duško Vujošević	Social liberalism	Centre to centre-left
9		Nemanja Šarović — For the Whole Normal World LJVN	Nemanja Šarović	National conservatism	Right-wing
10		Sovereignists — Saša Radulović — Milan Stamatović — dr Jovana Stojković[31] DJB, ZS, ŽZS	Vojin Biljić	Right-wing populism	Right-wing
11		Boško Obradović — Serbian Movement Dveri — POKS — Miloš Parandilović — Patriotic Bloc for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia[31] Dveri, POKS[a]	Radmila Vasić	Serbian nationalism	Right-wing
12		Russian Minority Alliance for Belgrade — Aleksandar Buhanac (Serbo-Russian Movement, Serbo-Russian Party Wolves, Movement of Greeks Srbiza)[32] SRP,[b] SRPV, PGS	Pavle Bihali	Neo-fascism	Far-right

Campaign

Further information: 2022 Serbian general election § Participating parties and coalitions

Slogans

Party/coalition		Original slogan	English translation	Source
	United Serbia	Beograd te zove	Belgrade is calling you	[33]
	We Must	Za dobar grad!	For a good city!
	Dveri–POKS	Srcem za Beograd	For Belgrade with heart

Party campaigns

Serbian Progressive Party

In January 2022, the Serbian Progressive Party chose Aleksandar Šapić as their candidate for mayor,^[34] and GIK confirmed their ballot list on 17 February.^[35]

Opinion polls

Polling organization	Date published	SNS—led coalition	SPAS	SPS—JS	United Serbia				Moramo	Dveri	DJB	NADA	SSZ	Others	Lead
					PSG	SSP	NS	DS
Results	3 April	38.83		7.14	21.78				11.04	3.44	2.18	6.44	3.57	5.57	17.05
ŠSM	28 Mar 2022	45.8		4.6	29.0				9.6	2.0	2.2	3.5	1.6	1.7	16.8
Nova S	14 Mar 2022	38.9		3.2	16.4				17.2	–	–	2.9	2.5	3.7[c]	21.7
NSPM	11 Mar 2022	41.8		8.2	21.6				10.0	2.2	2.7	3.6	3.4	6.5	20.2
Elections called, beginning of official campaigning
NSPM	11 Feb 2022	36.6		7.4	14.0				12.6	1.2	1.6	3.2	2.5	20.9[d]	22
Stata.rs	11 Feb 2022	29.3			28.2				7.1	2.8	2.8	3.6	4.6	21.6[e]	1.1
ŠSM	10 Dec 2021	47.9			25.3				13.5	0.9	1.8	3.8	1.9	4.9	22
Demostat	2 Dec 2021	46.0			22.0				13.0	5.0	–	4.0	with Dveri	10.0	24
United Serbia coalition formed, escalation of the environmental protests
Faktor plus	31 Oct 2021	44.3		7.0	2.0	9.7	2.9	2.4	6.4	1.3	3.9	3.1	2.5	14.5	34.6
Demostat	26 Oct 2021	38.9		6.2	26.5				6.0	2.0	4.0	4.2	1.9	10.3	12.4
Demostat	17 Aug 2021	31.8			–	31.8[f]					–	–	–	36.4[g]	Tossup
Faktor plus	5 Aug 2021	45.1		7.1	–	10.0	4.0	–	6.5	–	4.3	–	–	23.0	35.1
ŠSM	18 Jul 2021	44.6		8.8	15.6		5.8	–	10.8	3		2.3	–	9.1	29
NSPM	3 June 2021	34.5	11.7	6.7	–	22.6[h]					–	–	–	24.5[i]	11.9
SPAS merges with SNS
NSPM	20 June 2019	40.7	3.8	8.1	4.3	18.2[j]			1.9	(SzS)	–	1.0	–	28.5[k]	22.5
2018 election	4 Mar 2018	44.9	9.0	6.1	18.9			2.2	3.4	3.9		[l]		20.9	26.0

Mayor preferences

Polling organization	Date of publishment	Šapić SNS	Janković US	Lead
Stata.rs	11 Feb 2022	44.5	49.4	4.9

Results

The following results were published with 88.63% of polling stations reporting. Voting was repeated at three voting stations on 16 April and on two voting stations on 21 April.^[36][37] Final results were published on 9 May.^[38][39] SNS and SPS won the most votes in Suburban municipalities, such as Obrenovac, Barajevo and others, while UZPS and Moramo got a majority of their votes from central municipalities such as Vračar, Stari Grad and Savski Venac.^[40]

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Together We Can Do Everything	348,345	38.83	–6.16	48	–28
	United for the Victory of Belgrade	195,335	21.78		26	0
	We Must	99,078	11.04		13	+13
	SPS–JS–ZS	64,050	7.14		8	0
	National Democratic Alternative	57,760	6.44		7	+7
	Serbian Party Oathkeepers	32,029	3.57		4	+4
	Dveri–POKS	30,898	3.44		4	+4
	SDS–Nova	26,219	2.92		0	0
	Sovereignists	19,544	2.18		0	0
	Serbian Radical Party	14,674	1.64		0	0
	Nemanja Šarović — For the Whole Normal World	5,239	0.58		0	0
	Russian Minority Alliance	3,879	0.43		0	0
Total		897,050	100.00	–	110	–
Valid votes		897,050	97.91
Invalid/blank votes		19,155	2.09
Total votes		916,205	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,600,462	57.85
Source: GIK

Aftermath

Preliminary results were published a day after the elections.^[41] Opposition parties had managed to win more votes than the governing parties, although the opposition Social Democratic Party remained below the threshold.^[42][43] The We Must coalition called for a discussion between opposition parties, while the National Democratic Alternative and Dveri have stated that they would cooperate with other opposition parties to form a local government.^[44][45][46] Zoran Alimpić, the representative of the United for the Victory of Belgrade coalition, and the We Must coalition stated that irregularities occurred during the election day.^[47][48] The opposition held a press conference on 5 April.^[49]

Following the conference, Dragan Đilas and Marinika Tepić stated that "the shortest route would be to call early elections".^[50][51] Đilas later met with Aleksandar Vučić to discuss the outcome of the elections.^[52][53] The move was criticized by the People's Party and Serbian Party Oathkeepers, while Zoran Lutovac, president of the Democratic Party, said that Đilas did not consult with other coalition members before the meeting.^[54][55][56] Radomir Lazović, a representative of the We Must coalition, stated that "two people [Vučić and Đilas] should not decide on matters that are far beyond their competence".^[57] Dveri had stated their support for the formation of a minority government.^[58]

The Social Democratic Party failed to cross the threshold even after the repeated elections on 16 and 21 April; they have claimed that the votes were stolen in order for them to not cross the threshold.^[59] Opposition parties have stated that the next elections might be called earlier.^[60][61][62] Lutovac stated that he would prefer to create a wide alliance of moderate parties for the next election, while Pavle Grbović, the leader of the Movement of Free Citizens, stated that his party might leave the coalition in order to continue alone.^[63][64] On 20 June, Aleksandar Šapić was chosen as mayor of Belgrade.^[65]

Notes

1. Due to a dispute between Vojislav Mihailović and Žika Gojković, Mihailović had to register under the "For Kingdom of Serbia" organization because Gojković still legally represents the leadership of POKS
2. The Serbo-Russian Movement is made up of the Leviathan Movement, two political parties and ten organizations.
3. Without 8.3% undecided and 6.9% refused to answer
4. Including 14.9% for the opposition, but still undecided as to whom
5. Including 13.7% undecided and 5.7% that would not vote
6. Includes all opposition parties that boycotted last parliamentary election
7. Including 21.2 for the opposition, but still undecided as to whom and 15.1 for "constructive opposition".
8. Includes all opposition parties that boycotted last parliamentary election
9. Including 15.9 for the opposition, but still undecided as to whom, 7.1 for "constructive opposition"
10. For later dissolved Alliance for Serbia (SzS)
11. Including 18.7 for the opposition, but still undecided as to whom.
12. DSS: 1.1; POKS: 0.5