Results of Serbian general elections withheld

 The final results of the Serbian parliamentary elections are withheld as the electoral commission has decided to re-run elections in 15 polling stations where there were irregularities.

The commission discovered "logical and computational errors" in election records, and decided on Wednesday night to cancel the results of the April 24 elections at 15 polling stations where irregularities were reported by both the ruling Progressive Party and some opposition parties.

Around 18,000 voters will have to vote again at the 15 polling stations next week.

That means Serbian people will have to wait for at least two more weeks to know the final results of the parliamentary elections.

According to preliminary results after 98 percent of votes were counted, the ruling Progressive Party has won 48.26 percent of the vote.

About 3.7 million people, or 56 percent of the Serbian population, voted in the elections.

The elections, called by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic two years before his term ends, are expected to give him another full four-year mandate for reforms to pave the way for Serbia's full membership in the European Union.

Vucic said that by voting in fresh elections, people will decide "whether Serbia will become a modern European country by 2020."

A new parliament will be formed within 30 days after the official announcement of election results, and a new government will be formed within 90 days after the formation of the parliament.

Source: XINHUA