Serbia Votes in High-Stakes Parliamentary Election as Vucic Faces Student-Led Challenge

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbians are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election widely viewed as a showdown between populist leader Aleksandar Vucic and a university student movement that has protested against him for nearly two years.

While Serbia’s 6.4 million voters can choose among 18 parties vying for seats in the 250-member Parliament, the vote has effectively become a referendum between Vucic’s right-wing Serbian Progressive Party and the youth-backed Students’ List.

The leading contenders are polling neck-and-neck, making Sunday’s election the most unpredictable in recent years. High turnout is expected and could push many smaller parties below the 3% threshold required to enter the assembly.

Although Vucic has repeatedly outmaneuvered Serbia’s fragmented opposition, the leaderless youth movement has emerged as a formidable challenger, shaking his hold on power in a way no other force has in the 14 years since his party took office.

A student victory would likely reverberate beyond Serbia, as nations across Europe grapple with youth- and student-led protests.

Recent elections have been tainted by irregularities, and the European Union is monitoring Sunday’s vote closely in this candidate country for bloc membership.

Both international and local election monitors have already raised concerns about the safety and fairness of a campaign marked by detentions, near-total government control of the media, and reports of surveillance and cyberattacks targeting activists.

Municipal elections earlier this year across 10 Serbian municipalities saw violent attacks on journalists and activists. The previous parliamentary vote in 2023 was followed by opposition protests alleging fraud.

If his SNS party wins the most votes, Vucic will become prime minister after serving two nearly full terms as president. He resigned the presidency last month to lead the campaign.

The populists’ support has eroded since 16 people were killed two years ago when a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in northern Serbia, triggering a wave of youth protests demanding accountability for the disaster and justice for the victims.

The anger reflected widespread accusations of high-level corruption and cronyism. Protesters said rampant graft led to negligence during renovation work at Novi Sad station, ultimately causing the canopy collapse.

Despite the protests, Vucic retains considerable support among Serbian voters. Admirers regard him as a capable leader who can steer the country through global uncertainties—an image carefully cultivated by mainstream media.

The newly formed Students’ List movement differs from any other political organization in Serbia. Though shaped by university students, none of them are actually on the ballot. Instead, the candidates are little-known experts, athletes, farmers, and artists.

This approach was intended to counter Vucic’s one-man rule and restore a sense of community and solidarity. The campaign’s “we know how” message promised a non-partisan effort to rebuild Serbia’s economy and democracy following a change of government.

With their youthful energy, the students have drawn in voters disillusioned with local politicians. Vilified by pro-government media, students have cycled and walked across the country to reach voters in rural areas—Vucic’s traditional strongholds.

Election surveys have produced varied results, with both sides claiming the lead. Some analysts fear post-election instability if the result is close.

Vucic has said his side would concede defeat if it lost the vote. However, he has also warned that any protests erupting to claim fraud in the event of his party’s victory would be immediately quashed.

The state election commission is not expected to release the official tally before Monday.

Magda Anastasijevic, Eastern Europe analyst for conflict monitor ACLED, said electoral violence has been rising in Serbia recently and could escalate, “particularly if the results are disputed.”

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