Serbia to Lower Election Threshold for Parties in Spring Vote

Serbia may change its election rules ahead of spring parliamentary elections to help smaller political groups gain seats in the assembly after some opposition parties said the would boycott the ballot.

The change will reduce the threshold to 3% of votes cast from 5%, President Aleksandar Vucic said on his website late Sunday. Polls show strong support for the president’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party and its coalition allies, a dominance criticized for its control of media outlets. That has prompted opposition calls to sit out the vote until conditions are in place for free and fair campaigns.