Serbian Elections Fail for Third Time in Year

Serbians failed for the third time in a year to elect a president because of low voter turnout.

An ultranationalist with close ties to Slobodan Milosevic led the ballot, underlining Serbians’ discontent with the pro-Western government that ousted the dictator in 2000. About 39% of registered voters cast ballots, exit polls showed, less than the 50% needed to validate the vote, said the independent Center for Free Elections and Democracy.

The failed election leaves Serbia in a power vacuum of sorts. Parliament was dissolved last week because the government lost that body’s support, and only a caretaker administration is in place.