Local elections were held in Serbia on 11 May 2008, concurrently with the 2008 Serbian parliamentary election and the 2008 Vojvodina provincial election. A re-vote was held at three poling stations in Belgrade on 18 May 2008 due to irregularities in the voting process.B92 – News – Politics – Revote ongoing in six polling stations

Background According to the Constitutional Law adopted by the National Assembly on 30 September 2006 that proclaimed the new constitution, the parliamentary Speaker (at that time Oliver Dulić from DS) had to schedule the elections for local administrative units by 31 December 2007. He scheduled them on 2007-12-29.B92 - News - Politics - Dulić calls local, provincial ballots for May Following the official breakdown of the government on 8 March 2008, early parliamentary elections were held on the same date.

Negotiations between the ruling parties, the President's DS and the Premier's DSS, were trying to enact a compromise on the date of the election. Tadić's Democratic Party wanted to respect the constitutional law, wanting to schedule the election by the end of year and hold it in March 2008, which is DSS's demand because of the solution of the status of Kosovo. G17 Plus wanted the Mayors and municipal Presidents to be elected directly as in the past, but the Democratic Party wanted them to be elected by the local parliaments.

Four laws necessary for the local elections (on territorial organisation, the capital, local elections and local self-government) were passed before the elections.

There were some notable changes from the previous local electoral cycle in 2004: the direct election of mayors was eliminated, and mayors were instead chosen by elected members of the assemblies; the electoral threshold was increased from three to five per cent (of all votes, not only of valid votes); all assembly mandates were awarded to candidates on successful lists at the discretion of the sponsoring parties or coalitions, irrespective of numerical order.See Law on Local Elections (2007) , made available via LegislationOnline, , accessed 29 May 2021. For a comparison with the legislation in place during the previous electoral cycle, see Law on Local Elections , Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 33/2002; made available via LegislationOnline, accessed 29 May 2021.

In areas geographically comprising Sandžak, the Sandžak Democratic Party and Democratic Party ran in local elections together. The European Coalition of DS, G17+ and SPO ran in all Municipalities and Cities, except in Niš, where G17+ had been part of ruling coalition for the last years and where DS was running against them.B92 - News - Politics - DS, G17 Plus on separate lists in Niš The "Serb List" political of SRS, DSS, NS, SPS and several nationalist civic groups and organizations had been formed and ran in most of Vojvodina locally.

My Serbia of Branislav Lečić ran individually in local elections. Mayor of Novi Sad and former Radical Maja Gojković ran in the City with her civic group "For Our Novi Sad".

Kosovo

According to UNMIK practice, Serbian national referendums and elections for Parliament and President were allowed in Kosovo, but local elections are organized separately by UNMIK and the PISG. Despite all of this Serbia accomplished the local elections in Kosovo 2008 that were not recognized by UNMIK.

Repeat elections The municipalities of Knjaževac, Prijepolje, Ruma, and Vrnjačka Banja were not able to form governments after the election. Repeat elections were held in these municipalities on 9 November 2008."DS wins in three municipalities", B92, 10 November 2008, accessed 9 October 2022.

Results Belgrade City of Belgrade Results of the election for the City Assembly of Belgrade:

The City of Belgrade election, like the concurrent national assembly election, did not initially produce a clear winner. Representatives of the Radical Party, the Democratic Party of Serbia–New Serbia alliance, and the alliance around the Socialist Party held discussions about forming government; had these parties finalized an agreement, Aleksandar Vučić of the Radical Party would have become mayor."Serbian Radicals, Socialists and PM's party sign deal on Belgrade," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 28 May 2008 (Source: Studio B TV, Belgrade, in Serbian 1100gmt 28 May 08).

Ultimately, however, For a European Serbia formed a coalition government with the alliance around the Socialist Party. The Liberal Democratic Party was not a part of the coalition but offered outside support. Dragan Đilas of the Democratic Party became mayor and Milan Krkobabić of the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (aligned with the Socialist Party) became deputy mayor."Đilas gradonačelnik Beograda", Izbori 2008, B92, 19 August 2008, accessed 20 June 2021.

Branislav Belić served as mayor on an interim basis from July to August 2008, before Đilas was sworn in.

Municipalities of Belgrade Elections were held in all seventeen of Belgrade's constituent municipalities in 2008. The elections were generally a victory for the For a European Serbia alliance led by the Democratic Party, which ultimately won the mayor's office in twelve municipalities. The Democratic Party of Serbia did not finish in first place in any municipalities, but party representatives became mayors in three municipalities: Grocka and Mladenovac in alliance with the Democratic Party, and Lazarevac in alliance with the Radical Party. The Radicals held the mayoralty in their historical stronghold of Zemun, and former Socialist Živorad Milosavljević's independent list retained power in Sopot.

This was the last time the Radical Party was the dominant party in any municipal government in Belgrade. The party split later in the year, and the breakaway Serbian Progressive Party ultimately superseded the Radicals in popular support.

Many of the governing coalitions formed after the election were unstable, and new elections were held in the municipalities of Voždovac and Zemun in 2009.

Barajevo Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Barajevo:

Branka Savić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election. The local government was formed by the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Serbia, New Serbia, and the Socialist Party."Statut Beograda – spas za Barajevo", Politika, 8 October 2008, accessed 17 June 2021.

Čukarica Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Čukarica:

Milan Tlačinac of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 22 (4 July 2008), p. 29. The municipal government was formed by the Democratic Party and G17 Plus (both from the For a European Serbia alliance) and the Liberal Democratic Party."Vračar jedini bez koalicija", B92, 28 June 2008, accessed 17 June 2021.

Grocka Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Grocka:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Zoran Jovanović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was chosen as mayor after the election; the Democratic Party of Serbia, Democratic Party, Socialist Party, and Strength of the Citizens formed the municipal government."Grocka dobila predsednika", Novosti, 12 June 2008, accessed 17 June 2021. After a shift in the municipality's political alliances, Milan Janković of the Socialist Party became mayor on 22 June 2010.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 54 Number 23 (29 June 2010), pp. 21-22.

Lazarevac Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Lazarevac:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Incumbent mayor Branko Borić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was confirmed for another term in office following the election. The local government was formed by the Democratic Party of Serbia, the Radicals, New Serbia, and the Socialist Party of Serbia–Party of United Pensioners of Serbia alliance.L. Gedošević, "Branko Borić ponovo predsednik Lazarevca", Blic, 17 June 2008, accessed 19 June 2021.

Mladenovac Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Mladenovac:

The election did not produce a clear winner. Branislav Jovanović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was chosen as mayor, by a vote of twenty-nine to twenty-six. The municipal government was formed by For a European Serbia, the Democratic Party of Serbia–New Serbia alliance, and Alliance for the Revival of Mladenovac."DS i DSS-NS zajedno u Opštini - zbog građana", Blic, 17 July 2008, accessed 20 June 2021.

New Belgrade Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of New Belgrade:

Nenad Milenković of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 26 (1 August 2008), p. 24. Maja Videnović appeared in the ninth position on the Democratic Party's list but did not take a mandate.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 12 (30 April 2008), p. 13.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 26 (1 August 2008), p. 7.

Obrenovac Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Obrenovac:

Željko Jovetić of the Democratic Party was chosen as mayor after the election.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 21 (25 June 2008), p. 12.

Ivan Karić led the Green Obrenovac list.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 13 (30 April 2008), p. 45.

Palilula Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Palilula:

Incumbent mayor Danilo Bašić of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election, receiving thirty out of fifty-five votes. The municipal government was formed by For a European Serbia, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the alliance around the Socialist Party.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 25 (23 July 2008), p. 23."DS i DSS-NS zajedno u Opštini - zbog građana", Blic, 17 July 2008, accessed 20 June 2021.

Rakovica Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Rakovica:

Incumbent mayor Bojan Milić of the Democratic Party was confirmed for a new term in office after the election. The governing majority consisted of For a European Serbia, the alliance around the Socialist Party, and the Liberal Democratic Party."Bojan Milić predsednik", Blic, 14 July 2008, accessed 8 June 2021.

Zoran Krasić was the lead candidate on the Radical Party's list, although he did not take a seek in the assembly afterwards.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 12 (30 April 2008), p. 20.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 40 (27 October 2008), pp. 18-19.

Savski Venac Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Savski Venac:

Incumbent mayor Tomislav Đorđević of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election. The government was formed by the Democratic Party and G17 Plus (both from the For a European Serbia alliance) and the Liberal Democratic Party."Vračar jedini bez koalicija", B92, 28 June 2008, accessed 16 June 2021. Parliamentarians Nataša Vučković and Nenad Konstantinović were elected as Democratic Party candidates.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 22 (4 July 2008), p. 4.

Sopot Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Sopot:

Incumbent mayor Živorad Milosavljević of the For the Municipality of Sopot list was confirmed for another term in office after the election."Живорад Милосављевић", Municipality of Sopot, accessed 5 May 2021.

Stari Grad Results of the election for the Municipal Assembly of Stari Grad:

Incumbent mayor Mirjana Božidarević of the Democratic Party was confirmed for another term in office after the election.Službeni List (Grada Beograda), Volume 52 Number 22 (4 July 2008), p. 23.