Ruling populists look set to win Serbia vote amid pandemic

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s ruling populists are set to tighten their hold on power in a Sunday parliamentary vote held amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus and a partial boycott by the opposition. Nearly 6.6 million voters are eligible to cast ballots for the 250-member parliament and local authorities. The election was initially planned in April but postponed because of the pandemic. It comes as Serbia is still reporting dozens of new cases daily after completely relaxing its lockdown rules. President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party appears set for a landslide victory, facing little challenge from the divided opposition. Opponents say this is because Vucic has dominated the mainstream media, which he controls.