2008 Serbian local elections

The result of the election for the Belgrade City Assembly were as follows:

The City of Belgrade election, like the concurrent national assembly election, did not initially produce a clear winner. Representatives of the Radical Party, the Democratic Party of Serbia–New Serbia alliance, and the alliance around the Socialist Party held discussions about forming government; had these parties finalized an agreement, Aleksandar Vučić of the Radical Party would have become mayor.[7]

Ultimately, however, For a European Serbia formed a coalition government with the alliance around the Socialist Party. The Liberal Democratic Party was not a part of the coalition but offered outside support. Dragan Đilas of the Democratic Party became mayor and Milan Krkobabić of the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (aligned with the Socialist Party) became deputy mayor.[8]

Branislav Belić served as mayor on an interim basis from July to August 2008, before Đilas was sworn in.

Elections were held in all seventeen of Belgrade's constituent municipalities in 2008. The elections were generally a victory for the For a European Serbia alliance led by the Democratic Party, which ultimately won the mayor's office in twelve municipalities. The Democratic Party of Serbia did not finish in first place in any municipalities, but party representatives became mayors in three municipalities: Grocka and Mladenovac in alliance with the Democratic Party, and Lazarevac in alliance with the Radical Party. The Radicals held the mayoralty in their historical stronghold of Zemun, and former Socialist Živorad Milosavljević's independent list retained power in Sopot.

This was the last time the Radical Party was the dominant party in any municipal government in Belgrade. The party split later in the year, and the breakaway Serbian Progressive Party ultimately superseded the Radicals in popular support.

Many of the governing coalitions formed after the election were unstable, and new elections were held in the municipalities of Voždovac and Zemun in 2009.

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Barajevo were as follows:

Branka Savić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election. The local government was formed by the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, and the Socialist Party.[9]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Čukarica were as follows:

Milan Tlačinac of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[10] The municipal government was formed by the Democratic Party and G17 Plus (both from the For a European Serbia alliance) and the Liberal Democratic Party.[11]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Grocka were as follows:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Zoran Jovanović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was chosen as mayor after the election; the Democratic Party of Serbia, Democratic Party, Socialist Party, and Strength of the Citizens formed the municipal government.[12] After a shift in the municipality's political alliances, Milan Janković of the Socialist Party became mayor on 22 June 2010.[13]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Lazarevac were as follows:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Incumbent mayor Branko Borić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was confirmed for another term in office following the election. The local government was formed by the Democratic Party of Serbia, the Radicals, New Serbia, and the Socialist Party of Serbia–Party of United Pensioners of Serbia alliance.[14]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Mladenovac were as follows:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Branislav Jovanović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was chosen as mayor, by a vote of twenty-nine to twenty-six. The municipal government was formed by For a European Serbia, the Democratic Party of Serbia–New Serbia alliance, and Alliance for the Revival of Mladenovac.[15]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of New Belgrade were as follows:

Nenad Milenković of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[16]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Obrenovac were as follows:

Željko Jovetić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[17]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Palilula were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Danilo Bašić of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election, receiving thirty out of fifty-five votes. The municipal government was formed by For a European Serbia, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the alliance around the Socialist Party.[18][19]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Rakovica were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Bojan Milić of the Democratic Party was confirmed for a new term in office after the election. The governing majority consisted of For a European Serbia, the alliance around the Socialist Party, and the Liberal Democratic Party.[20]

Zoran Krasić was the lead candidate on the Radical Party's list, although he did not take a seek in the assembly afterwards.[21][22]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Savski Venac were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Tomislav Đorđević of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election. The government was formed by the Democratic Party and G17 Plus (both from the For a European Serbia alliance) and the Liberal Democratic Party.[23] Parliamentarian Nataša Vučković was elected as a Democratic Party candidate.[24]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sopot were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Živorad Milosavljević of the For the Municipality of Sopot list was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[26]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Stari Grad were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Mirjana Božidarević of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[27] Nemanja Šarović received the lead position on the Radical Party's list, although he did not take a mandate when the assembly convened.[28][29]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Surčin were as follows:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Incumbent mayor Vojislav Janošević of the Democratic Party was ultimately confirmed for another term in office after the election.[31]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Voždovac were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Goran Lukačević of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election, with the support of twenty-nine delegates. He was supported by the For a European Serbia coalition, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the Socialist–United Pensioners alliance.[32][33] Parliamentarian Marina Raguš led the Radical Party's list, though she did not take a seat in the municipal assembly afterwards.[34][35]

Lukačević announced his resignation as mayor in January 2009, and the president of the assembly resigned at the same time. A new municipal election was held in June 2009.

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Vračar were as follows:

Vračar was the only municipality in Belgrade where the For a European Serbia list won an outright majority. Incumbent mayor Branimir Kuzmanović of the Democratic Party was confirmed afterward for a new term in office.[36]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zemun were as follows:

Slavko Jerković of the Radical Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[37]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Zvezdara were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Milan Popović of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[38] Future parliamentarian Marija Leković, at the time a member of the Democratic Party, was appointed to the municipal council (i.e., the executive branch of the municipal government) on 18 March 2009.[39]

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Zrenjanin were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Goran Knežević, at the time a member of the Democratic Party, was confirmed for another term in office after the election, leading a coalition that included the League of Social Democrats, the Hungarian Coalition, and the Equality group.[40] Knežević was arrested on corruption charges on 1 October 2008 and dismissed as mayor on 23 April 2009.[41] He was replaced by Mileta Mihajlov, also of the Democratic Party.[42]

Elvira Kovács led the Hungarian Coalition list, although she did not take a mandate afterwards.[43][44]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Nova Crnja were as follows:

Pera Milankov was chosen as mayor after the election, leading a coalition government that including the For a European Vojvodina group.[46] A member of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) during the election, he subsequently joined the Democratic Party (DS).[47]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Novi Bečej were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Milivoj "Misa" Vrebalov of the Liberal Democratic Party was chosen for another term in office after the election. The Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with the For a European Novi Bečej group.[49]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sečanj were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Predrag Milošević, the leader of the independent For the Development of the Municipality of Sečanj list, was confirmed for a new term in office with the support of the For a European Vojvodina group.[51]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Žitište were as follows:

Dragan Milenković of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[52]

Elections were held in all three municipalities in the North Bačka District. The For a European Serbia coalition won a plurality victory in Subotica and governed in a sometimes difficult coalition with the Hungarian Coalition, which won a majority victory in Bačka Topola and a strong plurality victory in Mali Iđoš.

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Subotica were as follows:

Saša Vučinić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election. The Hungarian Coalition participated in the city's coalition government.[53] Relations between the governing parties were often difficult.[54]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bačka Topola were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Atila Babi of the Hungarian Coalition was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[55] Árpád Fremond appeared on the Hungarian Coalition list but was not given a local mandate.[56]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Mali Iđoš were as follows:

Róbert Csóré of the Hungarian Coalition was chosen as mayor after the election.[57]

Elections were held in all six municipalities of the North Banat District. The Radicals won a narrow victory in Kikinda, although they fell from power later in the year and were replaced by the Democratic Party. The Democrats also won in Ada, Čoka, and Novi Kneževac, while the Hungarian Coalition won in Kanjiža and Senta.

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Kikinda were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Branislav Blažić of the Radical Party was initially confirmed for another term in office after the election, leading a coalition that also included the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party of Serbia. While still in office, Blažić left the Radicals to join the newly formed Serbian Progressive Party, taking most of the local Radical Party organization with him. After doing this, he sent the offer of a coalition government to the Democratic Party, which was rejected. On 20 October 2008, the Democratic Party formed a new administration that included the Socialists, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, the League of Social Democrats, and the Serbian Renewal Movement; Jagoda Tolicki served as mayor.[58][59][60] Tolicki was in turn replaced by fellow Democratic Party member Ilija Vojinović on 17 June 2009.[61]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Ada were as follows:

Zoltán Bilicki of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[62]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Čoka were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Predrag Mijić of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election. He resigned in 2011, after a ruling that he could not continue to hold a dual mandate as mayor and a member of the Assembly of Vojvodina. He was replaced by Emil Poljak, also a member of the Democratic Party. The Hungarian Coalition participated in the local government.[63]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Kanjiža were as follows:

Mihály Nyilas of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians was chosen as mayor after the election.[64]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Novi Kneževac were as follows:

Dragan Babić of the Democratic Party served as mayor after the election.[65]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Senta were as follows:

Zoltán Pék of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians was chosen as mayor after the election. [66] He remained in this role until February 2010, when shifting political alliances allowed the Democratic Party to form a new administration with Anikó Širková as mayor.[67]

Local elections were held in the one city (Novi Sad) and all eleven separate municipalities in the South Bačka District.

The City of Novi Sad comprises two municipalities (the City municipality of Novi Sad and Petrovaradin), although their powers are very limited relative to the city government. Unlike Belgrade, Niš, and Vranje, Novi Sad does not have directly elected municipal assemblies.

The Radical Party finished in first place in six municipalities, although the party's hold on power in these areas was not strong. The Radicals initially formed government in four of the six municipalities where they won the popular vote, but they soon lost power in all four, weakened by internal divisions and by the loss of the Socialist Party as a coalition partner. (The Radicals returned to power in Bačka Palanka in 2010 and remained in office there until 2012. They have not led a city or municipal government in the district since that time.)

By the end of 2008, members of the Democratic Party held the mayoralties in Novi Sad and eight other jurisdictions. Representatives of different parties in the Hungarian Coalition claimed the mayoralties in Bečej and Temerin, and an independent list broadly aligned with the Democratic Party won the election in Srbobran.

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Novi Sad were as follows:

Igor Pavličić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election, with the support of forty-one delegates. The Hungarian Coalition and the Socialist Party participated in the governing coalition (with the latter party serving on the city's executive, even though it did not win any seats in the assembly).[68] Former mayor Milorad Mirčić appeared in the second position on the Radical list, although he did not take a mandate.[69][70]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bač were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Tomislav Bogunović of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[71][72]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bačka Palanka were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Dragan Bozalo of the Radical Party was confirmed for another term in office on 3 June 2008, following a coalition agreement between the Radicals, the Socialists, and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).[75][76][77] The Democratic Party (DS) subsequently formed a new multi-party coalition including the Socialist Party and the DSS, and on 3 November 2008 DS member Kosta Stakić became mayor.[78][79] In April 2010, the Radicals formed a new coalition with the DSS (following the defection of a For a European Serbia delegate), and Bozalo returned to office again.[80]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bački Petrovac were as follows:

Ondrej Benka of the Democratic Party was initially chosen as mayor after the election.[83] He resigned in October 2008 and was replaced by Vladimir Turan of the same party.[84][85]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Bečej were as follows:

Peter Knezi of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians was chosen as mayor after the election.[86]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Beočin were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Zoran Tešić of the Radical Party was initially confirmed for a new term in office in June 2008, with an assembly majority that also included the Socialists, the Democratic Party of Serbia, the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia, the Goran Kalabić list, and the New Democratic Party of Roma in Serbia.[89] Two months later, a realignment of political forces in the community led to Bogdan Cvejić of the Democratic Party replacing Tešić as mayor. Cvejić's administration was supported by G17 Plus, the League of Social Democrats, the Socialist Party of Serbia, and the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia.[90]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Srbobran were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Branko Gajin was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[91] The municipal government was formed by Gajin's list, the Hungarian Coalition, and the Democratic Party.[92]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sremski Karlovci were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Milenko Filipović of G17 Plus (a part of the For a European Serbia alliance) was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[94] He later joined the Democratic Party.

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Temerin were as follows:

Gustonj Andraš of the Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians (a part of the Hungarian Coalition) was chosen as mayor after the election.[95]

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Titel were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Milivoj Petrović of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[96] The local administration was supported by the Democratic Party, the Socialist Party, and the two independent assembly members.[97]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Vrbas were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Željko Lainović of the Radical Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election. The assembly majority consisted of the Radicals, the Socialists, and the Democratic Party of Serbia.[98] The Socialists subsequently withdrew their support from the government, leading to new elections in 2009.[99]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Žabalj were as follows:

Dragiša Đorđević of the Radical Party was chosen as mayor after the election, in a coalition with the alliances around the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party of Serbia.[101] In November 2008, both of these groups left the Radicals and formed a new coalition led by the Democratic Party, with Branko Stajić as mayor.[102]

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Sombor were as follows:

Dušan Jović, at the time a member of the Democratic Party, was chosen as mayor after the election.[103] He was replaced by Nemanja Delić of the same party in November 2009.[104]

Žika Gojković, an SPO member who was also elected to the national assembly, was one of the three members elected on the Let's Get Sombor Working Together list. He resigned his seat in the local assembly on 4 July 2008.[105]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Apatin were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Živorad Smiljanić of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[107]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Kula were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Svetozar Bukvić on the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[108] He left office in December 2011 when the Serbian government dissolved the local administration and set up a temporary authority led by Željko Kovač, also of the Democratic Party.[109]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Odžaci were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Milan Ćuk of the Radical Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election. The government proved to be unstable, and the municipal assembly became dysfunctional in 2009 after the Socialists withdrew their support from Ćuk's administration. The government of Serbia removed Ćuk as mayor in August 2009 and set up a temporary authority with Veroljub Marković of the Democratic Party as its leader.[110][111][112] A new election was held in the municipality on 24 January 2010.

Local elections were held for the City Assembly of Niš, the assemblies in all five of Niš's constituent municipalities, and the assemblies in all six of the Nišava District's other municipalities.

The results in the election for the city assembly were inconclusive. As at the republic level, and in Belgrade, a coalition was ultimately formed by the For a European Serbia alliance and the Socialist Party. Representatives of the Democratic Party also claimed the mayors offices in Meridana and Pantelej, while a member of the Socialist Party became mayor in a coalition government in Palilula. The Democratic Party of Serbia dominated the local coalition in Niška Banja, while the Radicals led the coalition government in Crveni Krst (and remained in power following the split in the party).

The Radicals also won the election in Aleksinac and were initially the dominant force in that municipality's governing coalition. After the party split, a new governing coalition came to power with a member of the Democratic Party of Serbia as mayor.

Local incumbents from New Serbia were re-elected in Doljevac and Ražanj, and an incumbent Socialist Party mayor was confirmed for another term in Gadžin Han. In Merošina, a Socialist Party representative served as mayor in a governing alliance with the Democratic Party and G17 Plus. United Peasant Party leader Milija Miletić was chosen as mayor in Svrljig and remained in office for the term that followed, excepting a three-month period in 2009–10.

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Niš were as follows:

The election did not produce a clear winner, and a coalition government was ultimately formed by the Democratic Party, G17 Plus, and the Socialist Party. Miloś Simonović of the Democratic Party served as mayor.[113]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Crveni Krst were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Dragan Bojković of the Serbian Radical Party was confirmed for a new term in office after the election. The government also included the Democratic Party of Serbia and was supported by the Socialists and New Serbia.[114] Bojković was succeeded by fellow Radical Party member Lelica Kostić on 13 July 2009.[115]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Medijana were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Dragoslav Ćirković of the Democratic Party was confirmed for a new term in office after the election.[116]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Niška Banja were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Zoran Vidanović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[117]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Palilula, Niš, were as follows:

Igor Novaković of the Socialist Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[118]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Pantelej were as follows:

Slaviša Dinić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[119]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Aleksinac were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Nenad Stanković of the Radical Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election, leading a coalition that also included the Democratic Party of Serbia, the Socialists, the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia, and the Movement for the Municipality of Aleksinac group. The Radicals split later in the year, and Stanković joined the breakaway Serbian Progressive Party, taking twelve other members of the Radical assembly group with him.[120] In November 2008, a new governing majority was established by the Radicals, the Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, the Movement for the Municipality of Aleksinac group, the Serbian Renewal Movement, and G17 Plus.[121] Stanković resigned, and Ivan Dimić of the Democratic Party of Serbia became the new mayor in early 2009.[122]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Doljevac were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Goran Ljubić of New Serbia was confirmed for another term in office after the election. In 2011, he left New Serbia and joined the United Regions of Serbia.[123][124]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Gadžin Han were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Saša Đorđević of the Socialist Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[125]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Merošina were as follows:

Slobodan Todorović of the Socialist Party was chosen as mayor after the election, in a coalition government that also included the Democratic Party and G17 Plus.[126][127]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Ražanj were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Dobrica Stojković of New Serbia was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[128]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Svrljig were as follows:

Milija Miletić of the United Peasant Party was chosen as mayor after the election. He was removed from office in December 2009 and was replaced by Slavica Božinović of the Democratic Party, who governed in a coalition with G17 Plus, the Socialists, New Serbia, and the Democratic Party of Serbia.[129] In March 2010, Miletić returned to office in an alliance with the Radical Party.[130]

Elections were held in the one city (Kragujevac) and all six municipalities of the Šumadija District. Incumbent mayor Veroljub Stevanović was re-elected in Kragujevac in an alliance with G17 Plus. The Democratic Party won in Batočina and Knić, candidates of New Serbia won the mayoralties in Topola and Rača, and the Serbian Renewal Movement won in Lapovo. A candidate of the Serbian Radical Party won in Aranđelovac but was removed from office the following year, and an administration led by the Democratic Party was established.

The results of the election for the City Assembly of Kragujevac were as follows:

Incumbent mayor and Together for Kragujevac leader Veroljub Stevanović was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[131]

Mirko Čikiriz of the Serbian Renewal Movement was elected on the For a European Serbia list.[132][133] He resigned from the city assembly on 10 October 2008.[134]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Aranđelovac were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Radosav Švabić of the Radical Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[135] He was arrested in June 2009, and the local assembly was dissolved in November of the same year.[136] Vlada Gajić of the Democratic Party led a provisional administration prior to a new local election in 2010.[137]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Batočina were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Radiša Milošević of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[138]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Knić were as follows:

Borislav Burarac of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.[139]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Lapovo were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Dragan Zlatković of the Serbian Renewal Movement was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[140]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Rača were as follows:

Dragana Živanović of New Serbia was chosen as mayor after the election.[141]

The results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Topola were as follows:

Incumbent mayor Dragan Jovanović of New Serbia was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[142]