Serbians vote in parliamentary election as student group targets 40 percent

Serbia holds a parliamentary election on October 25, 2026, as the Student List seeks to end the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) control established in 2012. The student movement, which has protested the government for nearly two years, targeted a 40 percent vote share in recent polling. Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic described the contest as the first competitive election since President Aleksandar Vucic took office, noting the outcome remains uncertain.

Thousands gathered in Belgrade on the evening of October 22 for the Student List's final rally. Many attendees had walked to the capital from across the country over several days. Biology student Arsa Stojanovic told the crowd that the group had traveled through villages and neighborhoods to connect with residents. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, stated that the atmosphere "smells 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 vote as a demand for accountability over that disaster and an attempt to move beyond traditional ideological divides in Serbian politics.

The SNS held a separate rally nearby, campaigning on stability and continuity. Vucic argued that opponents had attacked the party with billions of euros on foreign orders. He portrayed the election as a defense of Serbia's sovereignty against foreign interests.

The independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats during the final week of the campaign. These incidents included physical confrontations, attacks on campaigners, and attempts to seize banners. CRTA reported that opposition activists faced surveillance and police questioning. The group found that nearly 75 percent of national television airtime went to government representatives, while over 80 percent of Student List coverage was negative.

Anonymous sources told Deutsche Welle that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, or family holiday packages, to support the SNS. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former SNS member describing pressure on public-sector employees to deliver votes. Spasojevic suggested that a narrow SNS victory would likely be contested, as the student movement has vowed to defend every vote.

Authorities have warned of potential street violence on election night, citing foreign intelligence support for the students. Several individuals were arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances. An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations on Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented, emphasizing that democracy is central to the country's accession process, which began in 2012.