Minister declares opposition protest "debacle"

Minister declares opposition protest "debacle"

"We are asking them to accept the fact that they suffered a huge defeat, a massive debacle, in the elections," Stefanovic told a press conference at the SNS headquarters.

"It is they who were stealing during elections and behaved that way and so they think everybody will behave like them," said Stefanovic, and added:

"In contrast to them, Aleksandar Vucic wants to run the government democratically, while they only want their privileges back. But we will not allow that, as the people went out and said what they wanted, and that is Serbia to be ruled by honest and responsible people, instead of those who were robbing it and who think that this campaign of theirs will help them get back to power and continue their plundering."

"We have made it possible in this country for anyone to gather together in peace and dignity. This government made it possible for them to behave whichever way they wanted in accordance with the law, but we will not allow anyone to beat women, like they attacked a lady member of RIK two days ago. They attacked the woman and tried to influence the work of RIK in the most brutal way. Something like that is not permitted. Violence is not permissible. We will not tolerate violence," said Stefanovic.

Stefanovic also condemned "the brutal insults" directed at "an RTV Pink woman journalist" during the opposition rally

Opposition protest

Leaders of several opposition lists staged a protest rally in Belgrade on Saturday to demand the resignation of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK), calling them responsible for vote-rigging in recently held parliamentary elections.

Liberal Democratic Party of Serbia (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic said that the protest was a struggle for a free, democratic and tolerant Serbia, rather than for percentiles or percentages of votes.

Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDS) leader Boris Tadic said that the legitimacy of the electoral system was brought into question if the right of anyone who went to the polls, even if it be a single vote, was not respected.

President of the Dveri movement Bosko Obradovic accused the SNS of "trying to push certain lists below the threshold in order to usurp their seats."

Democratic Party (DS) leader Bojan Pajtic said that the system had no legitimacy if only a single vote was stolen.

The protest was organized following a partial vote recount and RIK saying late on Friday that the DSS-Dveri list remained below the threshold with 4.99 percent of the votes.

The party leaders urged their supporters to vote the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) - Dveri list in the 15 polling stations where voting will be repeat on May 4.