BELGRADE, SERBIA -- Serbia's ruling populists looked set to tighten their hold on power as polls closed in a parliamentary election held Sunday despite concerns over the spread of coronavirus in the Balkan country and a partial boycott by the opposition.
The turnout among the nearly 6.6 million voters who were eligible to cast ballots for Serbia's 250-member parliament and local officess appeared lower than in previous elections.
One hour before the polls closed, the turnout was about 7 percentage points lower than one hour before the voting stations closed during the 2016 parliamentary election, according to independent election observers.
The final turnout figure has yet to be released.
It was the first national election in Europe to take place during the virus pandemic. The voting -- initially planned for April but postponed because of the pandemic -- comes as Serbia is still reporting dozens of new cases daily after completely relaxing its strict lockdown rules.
President Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party appeared set for a landslide victory, facing little challenge from the divided opposition.
"I am very pleased that today until midday there were no serious irregularities, that the elections are held in a democratic atmosphere," Vucic said after voting in Belgrade. "I hope for a success. I hope for a good result."
While Serbian voters are not choosing a president Sunday, Vucic has dominated the campaign through the mainstream media which he controls, denouncing and ridiculing his critics. He has refuted allegations of abusing his formal ceremonial powers as president by taking a leading role in the campaign.
"For the last four years, we really gave our utmost, so I hope that today Serbian voters will come out and confirm that they are satisfied with our work," Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said at a voting station in Belgrade. "I hope people will today give their trust to President Aleksandar Vucic and his team."
Citing the lack of free and fair voting conditions and a danger to public health, several main opposition groups are boycotting the vote. But a number of smaller parties have decided to run, saying the boycott would only sideline an already marginalized opposition.
Sergej Trifunovic, a prominent Serbian movie actor and the leader of an opposition group that broke ranks with the main pro-boycott group, said if you want to be a politician, you have to be in parliament.
"It's very important that with gloves and masks you protect your health and by using a pen ( for voting) you maintain your dignity and defend your freedom," he said. "So all of you, go out and vote."
Health authorities provided face masks, gloves and sanitizers at the polling stations. In Belgrade, people could be seen largely respecting social distancing rules, and many wore masks. Authorities have said that voting was no more risky than going to a shop or any other closed space.
Serbia reported 91 new virus cases and one more death on Sunday, bringing the country's pandemic death toll to 261.
A former extreme nationalist, Vucic briefly served as information minister in the government of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic during the 1990s wars in the Balkans. While Vucic now says he seeks European Union membership for Serbia, critics warn that democratic freedoms have eroded since his party came to power in 2012.
The autocratic president has called on his supporters to vote in large numbers to get a strong mandate for internationally mediated peace negotiations on the future of Serbia's breakaway former province of Kosovo.
A U.S.-brokered Kosovo-Serbia summit is to he held in Washington on June 27, while EU officials have announced plans to restart Brussels-mediated negotiations.
Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo's independence and has the support of Russia and China in the dispute.
