UPDATE - Serbian president declares victory in 1st round of elections

ADDS MORE DETAILS, EXCERPTS FROM VUCIC'S VICTORY SPEECH

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared victory Sunday in the country’s presidential elections, winning a second term in office.

Vucic was re-elected after winning 59.9% of the vote.

According to unofficial results announced by pollsters Ipsos and Cesid, Vucic secured more than the necessary 50% needed for victory in the first round, while second-placed Zdravko Ponos won 17.8%.

Meanwhile, in parliamentary elections, Vucic's Together We Can Do Everything coalition is leading with 43.6% of the vote based on 68.4% of the counted votes.

Marinika Tepic's United for Serbia's Victory coalition is in second place with 12.8%, while Ivica Dacic's Socialist Party of Serbia is in third place with 11.6%.

Vucic told reporters at the election headquarters of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) that he won 2.245 million votes out of the 3.84 million people who took part in Sunday's polls.

"I am proud of the fact that I managed to do something that no one has ever succeeded in doing in Serbia," said Vucic, adding that former presidents Tomislav Nikolic and Boris Tadic garnered around 950,000 and 850,000 votes respectively in the first round of the presidential elections.

“That speaks of the great support of the people,'' said Vucic.

Meanwhile, Vucic said the SNS won 44% in the parliamentary elections.

''Serbia will get a very stable and firm government,” he said.

He added that he has undoubtedly the greatest confirmed legitimacy and will make sure to form a government that will continue modernization and take care of peace and stability and foreign investments.

''We are facing numerous challenges, but the most important thing for Serbia is to have good relations in the region, to continue its European path and not to ruin relations with traditional friends,'' said Vucic.

Vucic also said that Serbia will continue its policy of military neutrality and will not join any military alliance and will try to maintain in the best possible way not only partnerships but also friendly relations with Russia.

"In any case, what I guarantee you in Serbia is that no one will ever ban (books by Russian novelist Fyodor) Dostoevsky from schools, who is bigger than everyone else in the world together. No one in Serbia will expel (the works of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich) Tchaikovsky from the theater and opera, because it makes no sense," he said.

Vucic's result is considered a historic victory for Serbian politics as he has secured the office twice in a row in the first round of elections.

Serbia held elections Sunday to choose a new president, members of the country's 250-seat parliament and local authorities.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and closed at 8 p.m. (0500GMT to 1800GMT).

Besides the general elections, local elections were also held in 12 municipalities and two cities, including Belgrade.

The Republic Election Commission (REC) said the turnout was 50.82% out of 6,502,307 registered voters by 6.00 p.m.

A total of 126 seats are needed for a majority in the assembly.

Meanwhile, eight candidates competed in the presidential election.

Presidential candidates are required to win more than 50% of the vote for a runoff not to be needed.

In the elections held in 2017, the turnout was 54.36%, or 3,655,365.

Vucic won the previous election with 55.08% of the vote in the first round.

Presidential terms in Serbia are five years.