BELGRADE — The European Union expressed concern on March 31, 2026, over reports of violence during local elections held the previous weekend in Serbia. The EU called on President Aleksandar Vučić's authorities to hold perpetrators accountable for violence during the elections.

"We regret the number of reported irregularities and incidents during the elections, the uneven playing field, and note with concern reports of acts of violence against independent observers, citizens, representatives of political parties and media workers," the EU delegation in Serbia said. "We call on the competent national authorities to ensure swift and transparent follow up and to hold perpetrators accountable."

Local elections were held in 10 towns throughout the country on Sunday. International monitors reported that they witnessed violence and irregularities during the elections.

Election observers reported witnessing heated arguments and a threatening presence of large, often unidentified and sometimes masked, groups of people outside polling stations. Election observers from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe reported that the voting itself complied with regulations, but they said they were alarmed by the situation outside polling stations.

Several people, including students and journalists, were injured in clashes in at least three towns during the elections. Some of those injured said they were attacked by organized pro-government supporters.

President Vučić declared that his Serbian Progressive Party won in all 10 municipalities in the elections. The president personally led the election campaign for his party. Vučić accused his opponents of stirring unrest during the elections.

The elections came after more than a year of youth-led street protests. The protests began in November 2024, triggered by a train station tragedy in northern Serbia. The Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse killed 16 people.

Serbia is a candidate nation for membership in the 27-nation European Union. Presidential and parliamentary elections are expected to be held in Serbia in late 2026 or 2027.