Serbia’s ‘pro-Putin’ prime minister on course to win presidential election

SERBIA’S conservative prime minister looked set to be elected president as polling stations closed last night.

Aleksandar Vucic, who as prime minister sought to combine support for joining the European Union with deeper ties with Russia, is the front- runner against 10 opposition candidates. “I really hope that with these elections, Serbia will carry on toward further stability,” Mr Vucic said as he cast his ballot.

Other contenders include Sasa Jankovic, a human rights lawyer; Vuk Jeremic, a former foreign minister; and Vojislav Seselj, Mr Vucic’s one-time po- litical mentor. About 30 per cent of voters had cast ballots with six hours to go before polls closed, a relatively low turnout thought to favour Mr Vucic.

He has portrayed himself as a safe pair of hands in a region still scarred by the wars of the 1990s and facing instability from pressures including immigration and slow economic growth. His opponents have accused him of authoritarian tendencies, saying he has overseen attempts to muzzle the free press and aligned the country closer to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Opposition candidates are being overshadowed by Luka Maksimovic, a 25-year-old media student who is running as a parody politician called Ljubisa “Beli” Preletacevic. Dressed in a white suit, fur coat and chunky jewellery in mockery of the perceived corruption of mainstream politicians, the character has proved so popular polls suggest he may win second place.

Mr Vucic needs to take more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a runoff on April 16.