Serbian MPs pass amendments to law on local elections

BELGRADE - Serbian MPs on Tuesday passed amendments to the law on local elections that move the timeframes for calling and holding local elections.

The amendments were carried with 165 votes in favour, 26 votes against and 2 abstentions, while 11 of the 204 MPs in attendance took no part in the vote.

Due to especially justified reasons, the amended law will take effect prior to the expiry of eight days of its publication in the Official Gazette.

The amendments allow for holding on the same day - June 2 - the elections for the Belgrade city assembly and local polls that were not held last December, which was one of the opposition demands during discussions on improvement of election conditions.