The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, held a news conference after polling stations closed on 3 October.

Mr Markovic congratulated newly elected local councilpersons, deputies, municipal assembly chairpersons and mayors, stating that these were the third elections held in the past nine months. “It was the second time that I called elections, within the time prescribed by law, in accordance with rules set beforehand”, Mr Markovic said. “Neither I, as Chairman of the parliament, nor the deputies or the Government of the Republic of Serbia, allowed electoral rules to be changed immediately before the elections”, he added.

Mr Markovic promised to report to the public on 6 October on the activities leading to the adoption of a new constitution. When it is passed, electoral legislation will be amended, followed by elections at all levels, Republic, province, and local, Markovic said.

“In twenty days, elections are due to be held in a part of our territory over which the Republic of Serbia has no authority. The National Assembly has twice ruled that only the Government of the Republic of Serbia would assess whether security and other conditions for Serbs and other non-Albanians to turn out to vote at these elections are met”, underlined the National Assembly Chairman.