Parliamentary elections were held in Serbia on 28 December 2003 to elect members of the National Assembly.[1]
Serbia had been in a state of political crisis since the overthrow of the post-communist ruler, Slobodan Milošević, in 2001. The reformers, led by former Yugoslav President Vojislav Koštunica, have been unable to gain control of the Serbian presidency because three successive presidential elections have failed to produce the required 50% turnout. The assassination in March 2003 of reformist Prime Minister, Zoran Đinđić was a major setback.
Opposing them were the nationalist Serbian Radical Party of Vojislav Šešelj and Milošević's Socialist Party of Serbia (descended from the former Communist Party). At the time of the election, both Šešelj and Milošević were in detention at ICTY, Milošević accused of committing war crimes, Šešelj of inspiring them.
Following the election the three former DOS parties (DSS, DS and G17+) fell two seats short of a parliamentary majority, holding 124 seats between them. After months of coalition talks Koštunica, Labus and Drašković's parties reach an agreement with the outside support of the Socialist Party in March 2004 which enabled Koštunica of the DSS to become prime minister.[2]
Electoral lists
Following electoral lists took part in the 2003 parliamentary election:[3]
Independent Serbia – dr Vladan Batić (Christian Democratic Party of Serbia, Democratic Party "Fatherland", Democratic Movement of Romanians of Serbia, Peasants Party, Serbian Justice)
Defense and Justice – Vuk Obradović and Borivoje Borović (Social Democracy, People's Party "Justice", Pensioners and Workers' Party, Social Democratic Party of Greens)
