Protesters in Serbia have intensified their demonstrations against the results of last week's elections, leading to an attempted break-in at Belgrade City Hall. The opposition is demanding a re-run of the vote, alleging "irregularities" and pointing to claims of ballot box stuffing and vote buying. Domestic and international observers have raised concerns about the election process.

President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia dismissed the allegations as "rubbish and lies" in response to the opposition's demand for a re-election. The ruling party, Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), secured a majority in parliament in the recent elections.

The election for Belgrade City Council has attracted particular criticism due to reports of non-residents being bussed in. In an effort to voice their dissent, supporters of the opposition coalition Serbia Against Violence (SPN) attempted to break into Belgrade City Hall on Sunday. However, the police used pepper spray to repel the protesters.

During the protest, lawyer Sofija Mandic addressed the crowd, calling for President Vucic to "hand over power peacefully," accusing the government of "usurping" power. President Vucic, in an emergency address to the nation, blamed the unrest on foreign interference. He referred to the protesters as "real thugs," contradicting their claims to be fighting against violence.

The recent vote provided a victory for President Vucic's SNS party, reinstating them into power with a majority in parliament. The opposition coalition SPN had hoped to prevent the SNS from securing a majority and gain control of Belgrade. However, the official results, which were immediately denounced as fraudulent by the opposition, showed that the SPN had failed to achieve either goal.

In response to the disputed election, the opposition has organized daily protests, with seven prominent figures even resorting to a hunger strike. Marinika Tepic, one of the hunger strikers, accused President Vucic of stealing thousands of votes during Sunday's protest.

To address concerns over the election, the electoral commission announced the decision to rerun the vote in approximately 30 polling stations out of a total of 8,000 nationwide. Germany has condemned the allegations of election misconduct and stated that such behavior is "unacceptable" for a country aspiring to join the European Union. Meanwhile, President Vucic continues to deny any claims of vote-rigging.

The ongoing protests in Serbia highlight the deep divisions within the country's political landscape, as the opposition pushes for transparency and democracy in the election process. As the demand for a vote re-run persists, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and whether the grievances of the opposition will be addressed.