SERBIA’S governing right wing claimed a sweeping victory on Sunday in the country’s parliamentary election, which was marred by reports of major irregularities — both during a tense campaign and on voting day.

Acting prime minister Ana Brnabic said that with half the ballots counted, the governing Serbian Progressive Party’s projections showed it won 47 per cent of the vote and expected to hold around 130 seats in the 250-member assembly. 

The main opposition Serbia Against Violence group won around 23 per cent, Ms Brnabic said.

The main contest in the parliamentary and local elections was between President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressives and the centrist coalition that sought to undermine the populists who have ruled the troubled Balkan state since 2012.

Mr Vucic said: “This is an absolute victory which makes me extremely happy. 

“We know what we have achieved in the previous period and how tough a period lies ahead.”

The main opposition group disputed the election projections.

Opposition leader Miroslav Aleksic said: “What happened today cannot be something we can accept as the result of a democratic and fair election.”

Irregularities were reported by election monitors and independent media. 

One report said a monitoring team was attacked and their car was bashed with baseball bats in a town in northern Serbia.