Serbia: Information on the 20 December 1992 elections, particularly on the municipal elections in the area of Svetozarevo
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG16228.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Serbia: Information on the 20 December 1992 elections, particularly on the municipal elections in the area of Svetozarevo, 1 January 1994, YUG16228.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac5988.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a number of sources, the results of the legislative elections in Serbia are as follows: 101 seats for the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), led by Slobodan Milosevic; 73 seats for the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), led by Vojislav Seselj); 49 seats for the Serbian Democratic Movement (Depos), a coalition of 14 parties; 9 seats for the Democratic Community of Vojvodina Hungarians (DZZVM); 7 seats for the Democratic Party (DS); 5 seats for the Group of Citizens of Kosovo-Metohija; and the remaining 6 seats went to other parties (Keesing's Dec. 1992, 39240; Le Monde 26 Dec. 1992).
According to Country Reports 1992, the 20 December 1992 federal, republic and local elections did not meet international standards for fair and free democratic processes (1993, 898). Country Reports 1992 indicates that in the pre-election period, the ruling SPS used the state-run television and radio to its advantage (ibid.). The Los Angeles Times also reports that "foreign observers lambasted as grossly unfair the obvious support for Milosevic by the country's most influential media, especially Television Serbia" (22 Dec. 1992).
Other irregularities were reported by Country Reports 1992, including eligible voters being excluded from voting lists, inadequate ballot secrecy and security (1993, 898). The BBC reports that Depos lodged complaints with the Republican Electoral Commission against the election process (BBC Summary 29 Dec. 1992). These complaints included irregularities such as unsealed ballot boxes, lack of secrecy at many polling stations, soldiers being prevented from voting, and illegal processing of election records by unauthorized municipal electoral commissions (ibid.). Similar irregularities were reported in a number of newspapers (AFP 21 Dec. 1992; BBC Summary 29 Dec. 1992; BBC Summary 22 Dec. 1992, Le Monde 22 Dec. 1992; Los Angeles Times 22 Dec. 1992).
Specific information on the municipal elections of 20 December 1992 in the area of Svetozarevo could not be found.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
AFP 21 Dec. 1992. "CSCE Says Serbian Elections 'Seriously Flawed'." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 29 December 1992. "Reaction to Conduct of Elections." (NEXIS)
. 22 December 1992. "Complaints of Irregularities at Elections in Serbia." (NEXIS)
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1992. Vol. 38, No. 12. "Former Yugoslavia: FRY Elections."
Le Monde [Paris]. 26 December 1992. Florence Hartmann. "Les élections en Serbie ont donné lieu à une percée de l'extrème droite." (NEXIS)
. 22 December 1992. Florence Hartmann. "Premières évaluations contradictoires: les élections en Serbie ont été marquées par de nombreuses irrégularités." (NEXIS)
Los Angeles Times. 22 December 1992. Home Edition. Laura Silber. "Panic Cries Foul, Calls for Fresh Elections in Serbia." (NEXIS)
Attachments
AFP 21 Dec. 1992. "CSCE Says Serbian Elections 'Seriously Flawed'." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 29 December 1992. "Reaction to Conduct of Elections." (NEXIS)
. 22 December 1992. "Complaints of Irregularities at Elections in Serbia." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1992. Vol. 38, No. 12. "Former Yugoslavia: FRY Elections."
Le Monde [Paris]. 26 December 1992. Florence Hartmann. "Les élections en Serbie ont donné lieu à une percée de l'extrème droite." (NEXIS)
. 22 December 1992. Florence Hartmann. "Premières évaluations contradictoires: les élections en Serbie ont été marquées par de nombreuses irrégularités." (NEXIS)
Los Angeles Times. 22 December 1992. Home Edition. Laura Silber. "Panic Cries Foul, Calls for Fresh Elections in Serbia." (NEXIS)
