Serbia - 2000 - Presidential Election

The 2000 presidential elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo) marked the end of Slobodan Milošević's authoritarian rule. Milošević, in power since 1989, had seen his grip weaken over the years. In 1997, his government faced sustained protests that forced it to accept opposition victories in some local elections. Additionally, between 1998 and 1999, his regime suffered a significant blow during the Kosovo conflict, which culminated in NATO’s bombing of Belgrade and the eventual withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo—a major failure for Milošević’s government.

Despite intensified crackdowns on dissent, including targeted assassinations, the Serbian opposition and civil society rallied under the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition, backing Vojislav Koštunica as a unified presidential candidate to challenge Milošević, the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). Serbia’s two-round electoral system required a candidate to win a majority to avoid a runoff. In the first round on September 24, 2000, the Yugoslav government announced that Koštunica had received 49% of the vote, claiming this required a second round. However, independent monitor CeSID (Center for Free Elections and Democracy) conducted parallel vote counts showing Koštunica had won around 56%—an outright majority—to Milošević’s 35%.

Despite government-controlled media, civil society and opposition forces exposed the fraud, leading to mass protests known as the "Bulldozer Revolution" on October 5, 2000. Hundreds of thousands of citizens filled Belgrade and other cities, demanding Milošević's resignation. Protesters stormed government buildings, including the parliament and the state broadcaster. With mounting opposition and diminished legitimacy, Milošević conceded on October 6, 2000, and Koštunica was inaugurated as president soon after. This marked the beginning of a transition toward democratic governance. In December 2000, Serbia held its first free and fair parliamentary elections, with the DOS winning a significant majority. Milošević was later arrested in 2001 and extradited to The Hague to stand trial for war crimes related to the Kosovo conflict, though he died in 2006 before the trial concluded.

In this recording, Danko Cosic, co-founder and Deputy Director of CeSID, recounts the pivotal role domestic monitors played in mobilizing citizens, exposing electoral fraud, and igniting the protests that ultimately led to Milošević’s downfall. After the elections, Cosic served as CeSID’s Executive Director until 2004. In recent years, he has been the Principal Manager of the Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route, a cultural heritage initiative.