IZBORNI SISTEM SRBIJE
ELECTORAL SYSTEM OF SERBIA

Author(s): Vladimir Goati
Subject(s): Politics, Constitutional Law, Governance, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
Published by: CEDET Centar za demokratsku tranziciju
Keywords: constituency; election threshold; election manipulations; proportional system; majority system
Summary/Abstract: In the first pluralist elections in Serbia in 1990, a majority system was applied in two rounds, which provided a huge "artificial majority44 to the relatively strongest ruling party (SPS), at the expense of smaller parties. In all the following elections held four times in Serbia (1992, 1993, 1997, 2000), a proportional electoral formula was used, which ensured a greater match between the electoral and parliamentary political strength. Although, the party therefore, in all republican elections after 1990, the proportional electoral system was used, there was a frequent change in the number of constituencies, which significantly affected the election results. In addition, the electoral results of the December 2000 elections were strongly influenced by the electoral manipulations by which the ruling SPS "improved44 its electoral results. There were no such manipulations in the December 2000 elections, because in October of the same year there was a major political upheaval in which SPS lost decisive influence on the state apparatus and on the election administration. The mentioned elections were organized, however, according to the election law that was adopted in haste (October 9, 2000) and which has many weaknesses. That is why the adoption of the new electoral law is one of the most important tasks of the new democratic government in Serbia.

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