Pro-EU populists win landslide victory in Serbian election

Serbian Prime Minister and Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vucic, reacts during a press conference after claiming victory in parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, April 24, 2016. Initial unofficial results show that the incumbent pro-EU populists have swept Serbia's parliamentary election, leaving pro-Russia nationalists far behind.(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Serbian Prime Minister and Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vucic, speaks during a press conference after claiming victory in parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, April 24, 2016. Initial unofficial results show that the incumbent pro-EU populists have swept Serbia's parliamentary election, leaving pro-Russia nationalists far behind.(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

BELGRADE, Serbia – An official vote tally has confirmed Serbia's incumbent pro-EU populists won a landslide victory in the country's general election.

The tally presented by the state electoral commission Monday also shows pro-Russian nationalists are returning to Parliament.

With about 96 percent of the vote counted, the Progressive Party won 48 percent and its Socialist coalition partner got 11 percent in Sunday's vote. Two right-wing parties lagged far behind — the Radical Party with 8 percent and DSS-Dveri with 5 percent.

Three pro-Western opposition parties, the Democrats, the Social Democrats and the new reformist party Dosta Je Bilo (It's Enough) were each hovering slightly above the 5 percent threshold needed to win seats in Parliament.

The results mean that Serbia will continue with its EU membership bid, but with strong pro-Russian opposition.