Serbia Votes Sunday as Student List Challenges Vucic's Party

Serbia holds its parliamentary election on Sunday, October 25. The Student List, a political group formed by student activists, will face the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in what political scientists call the most competitive contest in 14 years. Thousands of supporters gathered in Belgrade on Thursday evening for the Student List's final rally. Many of the attendees had walked from various regions of the country to the capital, arriving after days of travel to demonstrate support.

Arsa Stojanovic, a biology student, told the crowd that the walkers had visited villages and neighborhoods across Serbia. He said the group learned it could rely on public support during these visits. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, described the atmosphere at the rally. He said it smelled like freedom. The event concluded with a kolo, a traditional circle dance. The student movement emerged after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 16 people. The group frames the election as a chance to address corruption and demand accountability for that disaster.

Dusan Spasojevic, a political scientist, stated that this is the first election since 2012 with an uncertain outcome. He noted that polls suggest the Student List could win more than 40% of the vote. In a separate rally a few kilometers away, the SNS focused on stability. The party argued that a change in government risks chaos. Former President Aleksandar Vucic told supporters that opponents were acting on foreign orders. He claimed opponents had attacked his party with billions of euros.

The independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of violence or threats during the final week of the campaign. These incidents included physical confrontations and attempts to seize banners. CRTA reported that opposition activists faced surveillance and police questioning. The group found that nearly three-quarters of national television airtime went to government representatives. More than 80% of coverage regarding the Student List was negative. Anonymous sources told Deutsche Welle that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, or family holiday packages, to vote for the SNS.

Authorities have warned of potential street violence on election night. Several individuals were arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances. Spasojevic said a narrow victory for the SNS would likely be contested. The student movement has vowed to defend every vote. An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations on Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012.