THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM OF SERBIA
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM OF SERBIA

Author(s): Vladimir Goati
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Governance, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
Published by: CEDET Centar za demokratsku tranziciju
Keywords: Electoral district; electoral threshold; electoral manipulations; proportional system; majority system
Summary/Abstract: The majority two-round system used in the first pluralist elections in Serbia in 1990 provided a great artificial majority to the most powerful ruling party (SPS) and to the disadvantage of small parties. In subsequent elections, held four times in Serbia (1992, 1993, 1997, 2000), a proportional electoral formula was used which provided greater congruence between the electoral and parliamentary power of political parties. Although the proportional electoral system had been in operation for all republican elections since 1990, there was regular fluctuation in the number of electoral districts, which had a significant influence on the electoral results. The electoral results prior to the December 2000 elections were strongly influenced by the electoral manipulations of the ruling SPS, employed to “improve” those results. Such manipulations did not take place in the December 2000 elections since a great political turn of events took place in which the SPS lost its dominant influence over state and electoral administration. However, these elections were held according to an electoral law which was passed in haste (October 9, 2000) and which had many weaknesses. That is why the passing of a new electoral law is one of the most significant tasks to be undertaken by the new democratic government in Serbia.

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