Serbian elections fail again

Serbia’s presidential elections failed for the third time in a year tonight because of a low turnout, according to exit polls.

The turnout was 38.5%, less than the 50% required by law, said the independent Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, a group that monitored the vote.

Amid widespread voter apathy caused by the lack of real economic benefits after former President Slobodan Milosevic’s ouster in 2000, the last two elections also foundered because of too low turnout.

Today, Serbs had a choice between a pro-democracy veteran, Dragoljub Micunovic, and a strident nationalist, Tomislav Nikolic.

According to unofficial results, Nikolic led with 46.5%, while Micunovic, the pre-election front-runner, got 35%.