1996 Serbian local elections

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Local elections were held in Serbia over two rounds on 3 November and 17 November 1996, concurrently with the 1996 Vojvodina provincial election; the first day of voting also coincided with the 1996 Yugoslavian parliamentary election and the 1996 Montenegrin parliamentary election.[1] This was the third local electoral cycle held while Serbia was a member of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the last time that Serbia oversaw local elections throughout Kosovo and Metohija until its parallel elections in 2008.

Delegates to city and municipal assemblies were elected in single-member constituencies; if no candidate secured a majority in the first round of voting, the top two candidates would face each other in a runoff vote in the second round.

Campaign and aftermath[]

The elections took place during the time of Slobodan Milošević's authoritarian rule as president of Serbia. In most major jurisdictions, Milošević's Socialist Party of Serbia (Socijalistička partija Srbije, SPS) ran in an alliance with the Yugoslav Left (Jugoslovenska Levica, JUL) and New Democracy (Nova demokratija, ND).

The main opposition grouping was the Zajedno (English: Together) alliance, which was officially formed in September 1996 by the Democratic Party (Demokratska stranka, DS), the Serbian Renewal Movement (Srpski pokret obnove, SPO), and the Civic Alliance of Serbia (Građanski savez Srbije, GSS).[2] The Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska stranka Srbije, DSS) contested the Yugoslavian parliamentary election as part of Zajedno; it mostly fielded its own candidates in the local elections, although it took part in the Zajedno alliance in some jurisdictions, including Kragujevac, Pančevo, Smederevo, and Čačak.[3]

The far-right Serbian Radical Party (Srpska radikalna stranka, SRS) contested the election on its own, directing its attacks on both Milošević and Zajedno.[4]

The election results were marked by weeks of controversy, particularly in major urban centres such as the capital Belgrade and Niš. Zajedno claimed victory in several of these communities, but the SPS did not accept defeat, and the local election commissions (which were often controlled by allies of Milošević) initially refused to certify the opposition victories. In Belgrade, the election commission invalidated the results in thirty-three constituencies won by Zajedno and called a third round of voting for 27 November. The Zajedno parties boycotted the third round, charging that it was an abuse of process.[5] These events led to the 1996–1997 protests in Serbia, in which student and opposition groups held a series of non-violent street rallies against the Milošević government.

The Milošević government held a counter-rally in Belgrade on 24 December 1996, which drew only sixty thousand attendees (many of whom had been brought in from rural areas) against three hundred thousand opposition protesters.[6] Three days later, a delegation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ruled that the opposition had indeed won several of the contested areas, including Belgrade, Niš, Pančevo, and Zrenjanin.[7] The Serbian government began to soften its position after this time, accepting the opposition's victory in Niš on 8 January 1997.[8] The Belgrade election commission announced on 17 January that Zajedno had won the elections; the government initially refused to accept this ruling, but on 13 February (following police attacks on the demonstrators that were condemned internationally) the Serbian parliament approved a lex specialis that affirmed almost all of the victories claimed by Zajedno.[9] The protests wound down after this time, and the Zajedno coalition took power in Belgrade and several other cities.

Ultimately, the parties in Zajedno were not able to remain united at the republic level, and the coalition fell apart in Belgrade before the year was over. In some jurisdictions, including Novi Sad, the parties were able to maintain their alliance until the next local election cycle in 2000.

Results[]

Note: Vote totals and percentages refer to the results in the first round of voting.

Belgrade[]

Elections were held at the city level and in all of Belgrade's constituent municipalities. The Zajedno alliance won a majority victory in the city, as well as winning control of most municipal assemblies. The Socialists won a smaller number of victories, mostly in the city's outer suburbs, while the Radicals won control of Zemun.

City of Belgrade[]

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Belgrade were as follows:

Party or Alliance Seats
Zajedno 67
Socialist Party of Serbia–Yugoslav Left–New Democracy 24
Serbian Radical Party 17
Democratic Party of Serbia 2
Total 110
Source: Richard Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 315. Only parties or alliances that won representation in the assembly are listed. It may be noted that the election for the City Assembly of Belgrade was the only local election for which results were not provided in the Serbian government's official report of the 1996 cycle.

DS leader Zoran Đinđić was chosen as mayor on 21 February 1997, by a vote of sixty-eight to twenty-four among the city assembly's delegates. There were sixteen abstentions and one delegate was absent.[10] Zajedno gained another seat shortly after the election, when DSS delegate Aleksandra Joksimović joined the DS.[11]

The SPO left the Zajedno alliance later in the year. Đinđić was dismissed as mayor on 30 September 1997, via an SPO motion that was supported by the SPS and SRS. Sixty-seven of the sixty-eight delegates present voted for Đinđić 's dismissal; the other delegate abstained. The non-SPO members of Zajedno boycotted this sitting of the assembly on the grounds that it had been improperly constituted.[12] Milan Božić of the SPO became the city's acting mayor, and SPO members came to hold all of the major positions in the city government with the informal support of the SPS and SRS. Vojislav Mihailović, also of the SPO, was selected as the city's new mayor in January 1999.

Municipalities of Belgrade[]

Barajevo[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Barajevo were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 4,548 44.07 24
Zajedno 2,859 27.70 8
Serbian Radical Party 1,628 15.78 -
Yugoslav Left 1,031 9.99 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 254 2.46 -
10,320 100 33
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 43-44.

Milan Damnjanović of the Socialist Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[13]

Čukarica[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Čukarica were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 20,696 27.53 29
Socialist Party of Serbia 21,183 28.17 18
Serbian Radical Party 17,703 23.54 6
Yugoslav Left 7,668 10.20 -
Democratic Party of Serbia 5,641 7.50 -
New Democracy 1,213 1.61 -
Democratic Centre 724 0.96 -
Assembly National Party 160 0.21 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 84 0.11 -
Peasant Party of Serbia 61 0.08 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 56 0.07 -
75,189 100 53
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 48.

Zoran Alimpić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[14]

Grocka[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Grocka were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 9,952 39.81 28
Zajedno 8,959 35.84 7
Yugoslav Left 2,816 11.26 -
Serbian Radical Party 2,308 9.23 3
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 937 3.75 -
Democratic Centre 26 0.10 -
24,998 100 56
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 44-45.

Incumbent mayor Milan Janković of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[15]

Lazarevac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Lazarevac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 14,441 43.67 42
Zajedno 12,006 36.30 15
Yugoslav Left 3,550 10.73 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 2,791 8.44 3
Serbian Radical Party 282 0.85 -
33,070 100 61
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 45-46.

Živko Živković of the Socialist Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[16]

Mladenovac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Mladenovac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 9,399 39.26 27
Socialist Party of Serbia 9,595 40.07 24
Yugoslav Left 3,749 15.66 3
Serbian Radical Party 681 2.84 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 154 0.64 1
League of Communists of Yugoslavia[17] 148 0.62 -
Assembly National Party 133 0.56 -
Serbian National Renewal 84 0.35 -
23,943 100 55
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 46.

Predrag Čokić of Zajedno was chosen as mayor after the election, by a vote of 28 to 27.[18][19][20] This was one of two municipalities where the lex specialis did not recognize a victory claimed by Zajedno, although the coalition managed to form government in any event.

New Belgrade[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of New Belgrade were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 34,004 29.31 28
Zajedno 36,590 31.54 21
Serbian Radical Party 26,137 22.53 6
Yugoslav Left 14,856 12.81 -
New Democracy 3,073 2.65 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 352 0.30 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 197 0.17 -
Assembly National Party 179 0.15 -
Workers' Party of Yugoslavia 169 0.15 -
Social Democratic Union 139 0.12 -
Progressive Party 116 0.10 -
Workers' Party of Serbia 115 0.10 -
League of Communists of Yugoslavia[21] 78 0.07 -
116,007 100 55
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 46.

Incumbent mayor Čedomir Ždrnja of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[22] This was one of two municipalities where the lex specialis did not recognize a victory claimed by Zajedno.

Obrenovac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Obrenovac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 10,718 33.84 27
Socialist Party of Serbia 10,178 32.13 19
Yugoslav Left 5,943 18.76 8
Serbian Radical Party 4,024 12.70 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 535 1.69 -
Peasant Party of Serbia 127 0.40 -
League of Communists of Yugoslavia[23] 101 0.32 -
Workers' Party of Serbia 47 0.15 -
31,673 100 55
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 46-47.
Palilula[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Palilula were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 18,094 25.63 29
Socialist Party of Serbia 19,751 27.97 14
Serbian Radical Party 16,258 23.03 8
Yugoslav Left 7,542 10.68 -
Democratic Party of Serbia 5,505 7.80 3
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,337 1.89 1
Coalition: Parliamentary Opposition 590 0.84 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 565 0.80 -
Workers' Party of Yugoslavia 205 0.29 -
League of Communists of Yugoslavia[24] 178 0.25 -
New Democracy 167 0.24 -
Patriotic Radical Party 95 0.13 -
Democratic Centre 94 0.13 -
Universalist Movement of Serbia 82 0.12 -
Peasant Party of Serbia 75 0.11 -
Social Democratic Union 70 0.10 -
70,608 100 55
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 47.

Gordana Tomić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[25]

Rakovica[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Rakovica were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 14,443 29.88 32
Serbian Radical Party 11,577 23.95 12
Socialist Party of Serbia 13,361 27.64 6
Yugoslav Left 5,411 11.19 -
Democratic Party of Serbia 2,347 4.86 -
Serbian Radical Party – Nikola Pašić 313 0.65 -
Assembly National Party 235 0.49 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 185 0.38 -
Democratic Centre 177 0.37 -
League of Communists of Yugoslavia[26] 137 0.28 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 109 0.23 -
People's Radical Party 42 0.09 -
48,337 100 60
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 47.

Predrag Dokmanović of the Serbian Renewal Movement was chosen as mayor after the election.[27]

Savski Venac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Savski Venac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 7,304 29.11 25
Socialist Party of Serbia 6,987 27.84 7
Serbian Radical Party 3,740 14.90 1
Yugoslav Left 2,969 11.83 -
Democratic Party of Serbia 2,778 11.07 2
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 916 3.65 2
Assembly National Party 195 0.78 -
Progressive Party 119 0.47 -
Social Democratic Union 66 0.26 -
Liberal Party 20 0.08 -
25,094 100 37
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 47-48.

Zdravko Krstić of the Serbian Renewal Movement was chosen as mayor after the election.[28]

Sopot[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sopot were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 4,727 51.22 29
Zajedno 3,010 32.62 4
Yugoslav Left 1,002 10.86 -
New Democracy 381 4.13 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 108 1.17 -
9,228 100 33
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 48.

Incumbent mayor Živorad Milosavljević of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[29]

Stari Grad[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Stari Grad were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 10,953 30.25 38
Socialist Party of Serbia 9,350 25.82 -
Democratic Party of Serbia 9,143 25.25 18
Serbian Radical Party 3,177 8.77 -
Yugoslav Left 2,493 6.88 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 615 1.70 -
Assembly National Party 329 0.91 -
New Democracy 117 0.32 -
Universalist Movement of Serbia 20 0.06 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 13 0.04 -
36,210 100 56
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 48.

Incumbent mayor Jovan Kažić of the Serbian Renewal Movement was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[30]

Voždovac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Voždovac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 21,631 29.57 39
Socialist Party of Serbia 18,701 25.57 10
Serbian Radical Party 14,411 19.70 5
Yugoslav Left 8,807 12.04 2
Democratic Party of Serbia and Assembly National Party 8,363 11.43 -
New Democracy 490 0.67 -
Democratic Centre 316 0.43 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 187 0.26 -
Universalist Movement of Serbia 86 0.12 -
Serbian Saint Sava Party 67 0.09 -
Social Democratic Union 60 0.08 -
Liberal Party 22 0.03 -
73,141 100 56
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 44.

Nebojša Atanacković of the Serbian Renewal Movement was chosen as mayor after the election.[31]

Vračar[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Vračar were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 15,973 42.86 50
Socialist Party of Serbia 9,323 25.01 -
Democratic Party of Serbia 5,724 15.36 10
Yugoslav Left 3,629 9.74 -
Serbian Radical Party 1,872 5.02 -
New Democracy 238 0.64 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 207 0.56 -
Democratic Centre 130 0.35 -
Workers' Party of Yugoslavia 45 0.12 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 42 0.11 -
Serbian Saint Sava Party 31 0.08 -
Assembly National Party 30 0.08 -
Social Democratic Union 27 0.07 -
37,271 100 60
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 44.

Milena Milošević of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[32]

Zemun[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zemun were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Serbian Radical Party 24,531 29.67 33
Zajedno 20,457 24.75 14
Socialist Party of Serbia 20,395 24.67 6
Yugoslav Left 11,270 13.63 1
Democratic Party of Serbia 3,355 4.06 1
New Democracy 1,060 1.28 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 735 0.89 -
United Radical Party of Serbia 370 0.45 -
Workers' Party of Yugoslavia 201 0.24 -
Social Democratic Union 156 0.19 -
Serbian Saint Sava Party 61 0.07 -
Assembly National Party 36 0.04 -
Serbian National Renewal 34 0.04 -
Workers' Party of Serbia 8 0.01 -
82,669 100 55
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 45.

Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj was chosen as mayor after the election.[33] He was replaced in 1998 by Stevo Dragišić.

Zvezdara[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zvezdara were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 17,840 28.31 40
Socialist Party of Serbia 16,106 25.56 7
Serbian Radical Party 12,028 19.09 2
Democratic Party of Serbia 7,680 12.19 3
Yugoslav Left 6,424 10.19 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 724 1.15 1
United Radical Party of Serbia 444 0.70 -
Democratic Centre 433 0.69 -
Democratic Party of Serbia and Saint Sava Party 370 0.59 -
New Democracy 367 0.58 -
Universalist Movement of Serbia 350 0.56 -
Serb Democratic Party, People's Radical Party and Serbian Renewal Movement 96 0.15 -
Social Democratic Union 65 0.10 -
Assembly National Party 61 0.10 -
Democratic Centre and Democratic Party of Serbia 31 0.05 -
63,019 100 53
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 45.

Vučeta Mandić of Zajedno was chosen as mayor after the election.[34]

Vojvodina[]

South Bačka District[]

Elections were held in all twelve municipalities of the South Bačka District. The Zajedno alliance won a convincing victory in Novi Sad, while the Socialist Party and Yugoslav Left won a number of the neighbouring jurisdictions. Independent candidates won a majority of seats in Bački Petrovac, and the Radical Party won the greatest number of seats in Temerin.

Novi Sad[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Novi Sad were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 37,064 26.67 39
Socialist Party of Serbia 32,742 23.56 6
Serbian Radical Party 30,203 21.73 9
Yugoslav Left 11,745 8.45 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 7,334 5.28 2
Vojvodina Coalition 6,695 4.82 10
New Democracy 3,663 2.64 -
Reformists – Coalition of the Democratic Center for Vojvodina 3,111 2.24 3
Democratic Fellowship of Vojvodina Hungarians 1,867 1.34 1
Democratic Party of Serbia 1,493 1.07 -
Serbian Democratic Alliance (SNO, NRS, SDS) 1,190 0.86 -
Green Party 555 0.40 -
Serbian Radical Party – Nikola Pašić 315 0.23 -
Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina 263 0.19 -
Yugoslav Left and Citizens' Group 223 0.16 -
People's Radical Party 179 0.13 -
New Communist Party of Yugoslavia 154 0.11 -
Natural Law Party 134 0.10 -
Universalist Movement of Serbia 56 0.04 -
138,986 100 70
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 59.

Mihajlo Svilar of the Serbian Renewal Movement was chosen as mayor after the election.[35] He was replaced on 18 June 1997 by fellow SPO member Stevan Vrbaški.

Bač[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bač were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,231 38.25 12
Zajedno 2,594 30.71 9
Serbian Radical Party 1,057 12.51 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 885 10.48 3
Yugoslav Left 679 8.04 1
8,446 100 25
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 58.
Bačka Palanka[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bačka Palanka were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 12,122 38.99 28
Zajedno 9,046 29.09 7
Yugoslav Left 4,952 15.93 5
Serbian Radical Party 3,498 11.25 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,201 3.86 1
Serbian Democratic Alliance (SNO, NRS, SDS) 275 0.88 -
31,094 100 41
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 58.
Bački Petrovac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bački Petrovac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 2,780 38.29 18
Socialist Party of Serbia 2,680 36.91 8
Zajedno 668 9.20 4
Serbian Radical Party 513 7.07 1
Yugoslav Left 354 4.88 -
Vojvodina Coalition 266 3.66 -
7,261 100 31
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 58.

Incumbent mayor Juraj Červenak was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[36]

Bečej[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bečej were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 4,238 21.20 12
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 6,258 31.31 10
Socialist Party of Serbia 4,997 25.00 10
Zajedno 2,749 13.75 4
Serbian Radical Party 1,521 7.61 -
Yugoslav Left 227 1.14 -
19,990 100 36
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 58.

Incumbent mayor Endre Husag of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[37]

Beočin[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Beočin were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 2,460 30.85 14
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,583 19.85 7
Serbian Radical Party 1,580 19.81 5
Yugoslav Left 1,267 15.89 5
Zajedno 1,049 13.15 4
Serbian Democratic Alliance (SNO, NRS, SDS) 36 0.45 -
7,975 100 35
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 58.
Srbobran[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Srbobran were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 2,023 24.21 10
Socialist Party of Serbia 2,619 31.34 9
Democratic Fellowship of Vojvodina Hungarians 1,122 13.43 4
Serbian Radical Party 1,045 12.50 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 739 8.84 3
Yugoslav Left 645 7.72 -
Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 164 1.96 1
8,357 100 28
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 59-60.
Sremski Karlovci[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sremski Karlovci were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 1,909 48.32 15
Zajedno 1,436 36.35 7
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 443 11.21 3
Serbian Radical Party 103 2.61 -
Yugoslav Left 60 1.52 -
3,951 100 25
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 60.
Temerin[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Temerin were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Serbian Radical Party 3,754 27.54 14
Democratic Fellowship of Vojvodina Hungarians 3,412 25.03 13
Socialist Party of Serbia 2,184 16.02 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 2,128 15.61 1
Zajedno 1,753 12.86 2
Yugoslav Left 398 2.92 -
13,629 100 31
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 60.
Titel[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Titel were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 2,482 31.22 8
Zajedno 2,149 27.03 8
Serbian Radical Party 1,775 22.33 6
Yugoslav Left 1,047 13.17 2
Democratic Party of Serbia 270 3.40 -
People's Peasant Party 143 1.80 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 83 1.04 -
7,949 100 25
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 60.
Vrbas[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Vrbas were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 9,056 39.75 18
Zajedno 8,250 36.21 13
Yugoslav Left 2,965 13.01 1
Serbian Radical Party 2,083 9.14 2
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 430 1.89 1
22,784 100 35
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 57-58.
Žabalj[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Žabalj were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Zajedno 3,802 33.98 22
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,656 32.67 4
Serbian Radical Party 2,018 18.03 1
Democratic Party of Serbia 958 8.56 3
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 506 4.52 1
Yugoslav Left 250 2.23 -
11,190 100 31
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 59.

Đorđe Đukić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[38]

Central Serbia (excluding Belgrade)[]

Nišava District[]

Local elections were held in the one city (Niš) and the six other municipalities of the Nišava District. Following the opposition protests, it was recognized that the Zajedno alliance won a majority of seats in the election for the City Assembly of Niš. The Socialist Party won majority victories in all six of the smaller communities.

Niš[]

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Niš were as follows:

Party or Alliance Seats
Zajedno 48
Socialist Party of Serbia 21
Serbian Radical Party 1
Democratic Party of Serbia -
Yugoslav Left -
New Communist Party of Yugoslavia -
Party of Independent Democrats of Serbia -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) -
70
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, pp. 82-83. This source does not provide vote totals.

Zoran Živković of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[39] Zoran Krasić ran as a Radical Party candidate and was the party's presumptive nominee for mayor; he was not elected to the assembly.[40][41]

Aleksinac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Aleksinac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 12,708 40.97 29
Zajedno 6,844 22.06 9
Serbian Radical Party 6,800 21.92 9
Yugoslav Left 2,587 8.34 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,565 5.05 2
New Democracy 340 1.10 -
Party of Serbian Unity 175 0.56 -
31,019 100 50
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 82.

Slobodan Stevanović of the Socialist Party served as mayor after the election.[42]

Doljevac[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Doljevac were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 5,295 42.92 27
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 2,626 21.29 7
Serbian Radical Party 2,236 18.12 1
Zajedno 1,547 12.54 1
Yugoslav Left 633 5.13 1
12,337 100 37
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 82.

Incumbent mayor Aleksandar Cvetković of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[43]

Gadžin Han[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Gadžin Han were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,955 53.10 30
Serbian Radical Party 1,224 16.43 3
Zajedno 1,107 14.86 4
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 955 12.82 6
Yugoslav Left 207 2.80 -
7,448 100 43
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 82.

Incumbent mayor Siniša Stamenković of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[44]

Merošina[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Merošina were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,918 45.43 23
Yugoslav Left 2,092 24.26 7
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,505 17.45 6
Zajedno 568 6.59 1
Serbian Radical Party 542 6.28 2
8,625 100 39
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 82.
Ražanj[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Ražanj were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,021 42.41 19
Yugoslav Left 2,290 32.14 6
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,254 17.60 4
Zajedno 559 7.85 2
7,124 100 31
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 83.
Svrljig[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Svrljig were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 5,709 48.87 21
Zajedno 3,695 31.63 8
Serbian Radical Party 1,049 8.98 1
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 582 4.98 -
Yugoslav Left 401 3.43 -
New Democracy 247 2.11 1
11,683 100 31
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 83.

Kosovo and Metohija[]

Kosovska Mitrovica District[]

Local elections were held in all six municipalities of the Kosovska Mitrovica District. The Socialist Party won majority victories in all jurisdictions except Zvečan, where no party won a majority and an incumbent from the opposition was confirmed in office for another term.

Kosovska Mitrovica[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Kosovska Mitrovica were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,819 50.29 26
Serbian Radical Party 1,551 20.42 2
Democratic Party of Serbia 1,166 15.35 2
Yugoslav Left 878 11.56 -
Zajedno 93 1.22 -
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 87 1.15 -
7,594 100 30
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 92-93.

Following the Kosovo War, Kosovska Mitrovica became divided between the predominantly Serb north and the predominantly Albanian south. Nikola Radović, presumably of the Socialist Party, served as mayor of the northern section from 1999 to 2002 (his mandate having been extended).[45] Online sources due not clarify if he was also the mayor of a united Kosovska Mitrovica prior to the war. Bajram Rexhepi served as mayor of the southern half of the city, which was beyond the control of the Serbian authorities.[46][47]

Leposavić[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Leposavić were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 3,959 47.39 24
Zajedno 1,799 21.53 3
Serbian Radical Party 1,502 17.98 1
Yugoslav Left 627 7.51 2
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 467 5.59 1
8,354 100 31
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 93.

Dragan Jablanović of the Socialist Party served as mayor after the election.[48]

Srbica[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Srbica were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 529 80.89 19
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 125 19.11 -
654 100 19
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 93.

Slavica Jeradić of the Socialist Party served as president of the assembly's executive board.[49]

Following the Kosovo War, control of the municipality passed out of the hands of the Serbian authorities. An August 2000 report in the Christian Science Monitor indicated that former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) soldiers affiliated with the Democratic Party of Kosovo exercised "virtual complete control." Ramadan Gashi served as mayor of a provisional authority.[50]

Vučitrn[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Vučitrn were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 2,000 49.09 25
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,869 45.88 8
Serbian Radical Party 177 4.34 2
Yugoslav Left 28 0.69 -
4,074 100 35
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 92.

Slobodan Doknić, presumably of the Socialist Party, served as mayor after the election.[51]

Following the Kosovo War, control of the municipality passed out of the hands of the Serbian authorities. Xhemalj Pllani of the Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo (later the Democratic Party of Kosovo) was became a provisional mayor in the municipality; his position was later formalized by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).[52]

Zubin Potok[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zubin Potok were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Socialist Party of Serbia 1,682 43.27 15
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,360 34.99 8
Democratic Party of Serbia 485 12.48 3
New Democracy 289 7.44 3
Serbian Radical Party 71 1.83 -
3,887 100 29
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 92.

Srđan Vulović of the Socialist Party of Serbia served as mayor during the term that followed.[53]

Zvečan[]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zvečan were as follows:

Party or Alliance Votes % Seats
Citizens' Group candidates (i.e., independents) 1,462 34.89 6
Socialist Party of Serbia 1,188 28.35 12
Serbian Radical Party 563 13.44 2
Zajedno 399 9.52 2
Yugoslav Left 159 3.79 1
New Democracy 158 3.77 2
Democratic Party of Serbia 153 3.65 1
Party of Serbian Unity 108 2.58 1
4,190 100 27
Source: Izbori Za Odbornike Skupština Opština i Gradova u Republici Srbiji, 1996, Bureau of Statistics – Republic of Serbia, p. 92.

Incumbent mayor Desimir Petković was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[54][55] He was removed from office in June 2000 and replaced by Miomira Ignjatović.[56]

References[]

  1. ^ Europa World Year, Book 2, 2004, p. 3696
  2. ^ Robert Thomas, Serbia Under Miloševic: Politics in the 1990s, (London: Hurst & Company), 1999, p. 277. Several months of negotiations between the parties had taken place prior to the formal announcement of the alliance.
  3. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 285.
  4. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, pp. 270-271.
  5. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, pp. 286-287.
  6. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, pp. 302-303.
  7. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 306.
  8. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 309.
  9. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 315. There were only two exceptions: the Belgrade municipalities of New Belgrade and Mladenovac. In the latter municipality, two seats claimed by Zajedno were not given to the party; a Zajedno member later suggested this was the result of an oversight. See "MILADIN MUTA MILIĆ (1957)", Mladenovčani, 2 July 2021, accessed 21 August 2021.
  10. ^ Toronto Star, 22 February 1997, A17.
  11. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 315.
  12. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 351.
  13. ^ Službeni List (Grada Beograda), 11 April 1997, p. 145.
  14. ^ "Znalac gradskih poslova", Danas, 10 October 2007, accessed 21 August 2021.
  15. ^ Milan Janković - Žire, City of Belgrade, accessed 20 August 2021.
  16. ^ Službeni List (Grada Beograda), 10 December 1996, p. 470.
  17. ^ This was not the historical League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which had dissolved in 1990, but another party using the same name.
  18. ^ "Belgrade students call suspension of opposition rallies 'mistake'," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service: Central Europe & Balkans, 19 February 1997 (Source: Serbian Radio, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 1400 gmt 17 Feb 97).
  19. ^ "I docek i godisnjica protestne setnje", Naša Borba, 14 January 1998, accessed 21 August 2021.
  20. ^ "MILADIN MUTA MILIĆ (1957)", Mladenovčani, 2 July 2021, accessed 21 August 2021.
  21. ^ This was not the historical League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which had dissolved in 1990, but another party using the same name.
  22. ^ "Assembly constituted in important suburb," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service: Central Europe & Balkans, 17 January 1997 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 1839 gmt 15 Jan 97).
  23. ^ This was not the historical League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which had dissolved in 1990, but another party using the same name.
  24. ^ This was not the historical League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which had dissolved in 1990, but another party using the same name.
  25. ^ Službeni List (Grada Beograda), 22 February 1997, p. 40.
  26. ^ This was not the historical League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which had dissolved in 1990, but another party using the same name.
  27. ^ "NATO strikes said to have damaged monastery, school, libraries in Belgrade," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service: Central Europe & Balkans, 17 April 1998 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1335 gmt 15 Apr 99).
  28. ^ Uroš Komlenović, "Shots at the Mayor", Vreme, 23 August 1997, accessed 21 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Живорад Милосављевић", Municipality of Sopot, accessed 5 May 2021.
  30. ^ Stari Grad (Grada Beograda), 10 December 1996, p. 466.
  31. ^ M.T. Kovačević, "I Voždovac i Zemun idu na izbore?!", Novosti, 6 February 2016, accessed 19 August 2021.
  32. ^ S. Janjić and J. Subin, "Iz fotelje posle decenije", Novosti, 8 June 2006, accessed 7 June 2021.
  33. ^ Thomas, Serbia Under Milošević, p. 301.
  34. ^ IZBEGLICE, NIN, 23 September 1999.
  35. ^ "Novi Sad City Assembly Speaker Urges Students to Continue Demonstrations," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service: Central Europe & Balkans, 13 December 1996 (Source: Bosnian Serb agency SNRA in Serbo-Croat 1813 gmt 11 Dec 96).
  36. ^ "Yugoslavian Matica Slovenska Visits Slovakia," TASR, 28 January 1998.
  37. ^ "Komemoracija: Tragično preminuo Endre Husag", Bečejski Mozaik, 30 April 2014, accessed 23 August 2021.
  38. ^ "Čanak predsednik", Glas javnosti, 24 October 2000, accessed 23 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Zoran Živković", Južne vesti, 22 May 2017, accessed 5 January 2022.
  40. ^ Velika Srbija [Radical Party publication], Number 156 (October 1996), p. 3.
  41. ^ Skupština Grada Niša, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1999-04-19. Retrieved 2022-01-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), City of Niš, accessed 10 December 2021.
  42. ^ "Tražite pare od Mrkonjića!", Glas javnosti, 23 April 2000, accessed 5 January 2022.
  43. ^ Начелник округа, Archived 2016-10-29 at the Wayback Machine, Nišava District, accessed 5 January 2022.
  44. ^ "Da Zaplanje ne bude bežanje", Glas javnosti, 29 December 2001, accessed 4 January 2022.
  45. ^ "Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Albanian mayor of Mitrovica distances himself from marchers," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European - Political, 21 February 2000 (Source: Text of report by Serbian news agency Beta).
  47. ^ "Poslanici 'Povratka' ne učestvuju u zasedanju Skupštine", B92, 27 November 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Zoran Todić novi predsednik Privremenog organa Leposavića; Vlada razrešila Jablanovića", Kosovo Sever portal, 6 October 2015, accessed 4 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Potraga za teroristima nije zavrsena", Naša borba, 13 March 1998, accessed 4 February 2022.
  50. ^ Richard Mertens, "Political violence in run-up to Kosovo vote," The Christian Science Monitor, 15 August 2000, p. 9.
  51. ^ "'Stavljali mi nož pod grlo'", Glas javnosti, 23-24 January 1999, accessed 4 February 2022.
  52. ^ Municipal Profile: Vucitrn/Vushtrri, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Mission in Kosovo, 5 April 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  53. ^ "Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  54. ^ PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.
  55. ^ "Peacekeepers accused of conducting 'brutal search' of Kosovo Serb village," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service: Central Europe & Balkans, 2 March 2000 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 0851 gmt 29 Feb 00).
  56. ^ "Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
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