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		</div><p>Voters in Serbia are casting ballots in a presidential election seen as a test of public support for populist Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and his autocratic rule.<br />
Mr Vucic, an ultranationalist turned pro-European Union politician, is tipped to win by a high margin against 10 opposition candidates.<br />
His political clout could face a blow, however, if he does not see off his opponents in the first round of voting on Sunday.<br />
Mr Vucic needs to win by more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off election on April 16 that would put him in a much trickier position against a single opposition candidate.<br />
Mr Vucic &#8211; who has been prime minister since 2014 &#8211; is expected to use his predicted win to appoint a figurehead successor and transform the presidency from a ceremonial office into a more muscular role.<br />
[timgSasa Jankovic, a Serbian presidential candidate, casts his ballot for the presidential elections at a polling station in Belgrade, Serbia, today]SasaJankovicSerbianpresidentialcandidateApr2017_large.jpg[/timg]<br />
Contrary to his claims that he wants to lead Serbia into the EU, Mr Vucic has been pushing for deeper ties with long-time ally Russia.<br />
Right before the vote, Mr Vucic even visited Russian president Vladimir Putin, who reportedly promised his signature on the delivery of fighter planes, battle tanks and armoured vehicles to Serbia.<br />
The move triggered fears of an arms race in the western Balkans, which Russia considers its sphere of influence.</p>
<p>Mr Vucic&#8217;s main challengers in the vote include human-rights lawyer and former Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, former foreign minister Vuk Jeremic and firebrand nationalist Vojislav Seselj, who has been tried for war crimes.</p>
<p>One of the biggest surprises of the election campaign has been Luka Maksimovic, a media student who is running as a grotesque parody politician, decked out in a white suit, oversized jewellery and a man-bun.</p>
<p>Mr Maksimovic&#8217;s parody character mocks corrupt Serbian politicians by promising to steal if he is elected.<br />
His widely-viewed videos on social media networks portray him doing push-ups, sucking a raw egg or riding a white horse surrounded by mock bodyguards.</p>
<p>His supporters are mostly young voters alienated by Serbia&#8217;s decades-long crisis and economic decline.<br />
The opposition has accused Mr Vucic of muzzling the media and intimidating voters ahead of the election.<br />
Mr Vucic denies such accusations, saying only he can bring stability to a region scarred by the wars of the 1990s.</p>
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