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| Serbia election: Pro-EU ruling party set for win, polls suggest | Serbia election: Pro-EU ruling party set for win, polls suggest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Serbia's governing pro-Western Progressive Party is set to win more than 50% of the vote in parliamentary elections, polls say. | Serbia's governing pro-Western Progressive Party is set to win more than 50% of the vote in parliamentary elections, polls say. |
| PM Aleksandar Vucic called the poll early seeking a mandate to continue with reforms required to join the EU. | PM Aleksandar Vucic called the poll early seeking a mandate to continue with reforms required to join the EU. |
| His PP is likely to win 56%, pollster Cesid said. | His PP is likely to win 56%, pollster Cesid said. |
| The Socialists are tipped to remain second biggest party while the ultra-nationalist Radical Party is set to be third. | The Socialists are tipped to remain second biggest party while the ultra-nationalist Radical Party is set to be third. |
| Its leader, Vojislav Seselj, could return to parliament after his recent acquittal of crimes against humanity at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. | |
| The Radical Party opposes EU membership and instead favours closer ties with Russia. | The Radical Party opposes EU membership and instead favours closer ties with Russia. |
| Speaking after casting his ballot in a suburb of the capital Belgrade, Mr Vucic said he would not compromise with right-wing parties and hoped that voters would choose a "European path". | Speaking after casting his ballot in a suburb of the capital Belgrade, Mr Vucic said he would not compromise with right-wing parties and hoped that voters would choose a "European path". |
| "I'm almost certain that we'll carry on our EU integration process," he said. | "I'm almost certain that we'll carry on our EU integration process," he said. |
| Also voting in Belgrade, retired Jelica Nikolic, 68, said she and her husband were acting more out of duty than conviction. "We have elections too often," she said. | Also voting in Belgrade, retired Jelica Nikolic, 68, said she and her husband were acting more out of duty than conviction. "We have elections too often," she said. |
| In the south-western city of Novi Pazar, voter Edib Mahmutovic, 40, hoped the winner would create new jobs "that enable us to stay here and not have to look for a better life elsewhere in Europe". | In the south-western city of Novi Pazar, voter Edib Mahmutovic, 40, hoped the winner would create new jobs "that enable us to stay here and not have to look for a better life elsewhere in Europe". |
| This is Serbia's third parliamentary election in less than four years. | This is Serbia's third parliamentary election in less than four years. |
| Partial results are likely to come in the next few hours. Election monitors quoted in Serbian media said the turnout would be at least 55%. | Partial results are likely to come in the next few hours. Election monitors quoted in Serbian media said the turnout would be at least 55%. |
| The key players | The key players |
| Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by Aleksandar Vucic, centre-right | Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by Aleksandar Vucic, centre-right |
| Founded in 2008, it has been in power since 2012. It won an overall majority two years ago, an unprecedented event in Serbia's short democratic history. It wants to pursue EU membership while maintaining good relations with Russia. | Founded in 2008, it has been in power since 2012. It won an overall majority two years ago, an unprecedented event in Serbia's short democratic history. It wants to pursue EU membership while maintaining good relations with Russia. |
| Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), led by Ivica Dacic, left | Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), led by Ivica Dacic, left |
| Founded in 1990 by Serbia's late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. Its main goals are achieving more social justice, social welfare and finding a political solution for Kosovo. But it has supported austerity policies implemented by its coalition partner SNS. | Founded in 1990 by Serbia's late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. Its main goals are achieving more social justice, social welfare and finding a political solution for Kosovo. But it has supported austerity policies implemented by its coalition partner SNS. |
| Serbian Radical Party (SRS), led by Vojislav Seselj, ultra-nationalist | Serbian Radical Party (SRS), led by Vojislav Seselj, ultra-nationalist |
| Founded in 1991, promoted since its early days the union of Serbia and parts of Bosnia and Croatia where Serbs formed the majority. It opposes EU membership and supports a closer alliance with Russia. | Founded in 1991, promoted since its early days the union of Serbia and parts of Bosnia and Croatia where Serbs formed the majority. It opposes EU membership and supports a closer alliance with Russia. |
| Sources: AP, Reuters | Sources: AP, Reuters |
| If confirmed, the results would mean an absolute majority for Mr Vucic in parliament. | If confirmed, the results would mean an absolute majority for Mr Vucic in parliament. |
| The ultra-nationalists, however, could complicate Serbia's EU membership talks by resisting concessions, such as ending the claim to sovereignty over Kosovo. | The ultra-nationalists, however, could complicate Serbia's EU membership talks by resisting concessions, such as ending the claim to sovereignty over Kosovo. |
| Critics of Mr Vucic say his government has become increasingly autocratic, with some calling him a "dictator". | Critics of Mr Vucic say his government has become increasingly autocratic, with some calling him a "dictator". |
| Serbia has signed a €1.2bn ($1.35bn; £940m) loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In return, it needs to implement austerity measures demanded by the group. | Serbia has signed a €1.2bn ($1.35bn; £940m) loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In return, it needs to implement austerity measures demanded by the group. |
| The Serbian economy is in bad shape, and unemployment is at around 18%. | The Serbian economy is in bad shape, and unemployment is at around 18%. |