OMM Newsroom
Serbia is holding snap parliamentary elections on Sunday. A mass student protest movement is seeking to remove populist leader Aleksandar Vucic, who has led the country for more than a decade, AnewZ reports. The vote is considered the most serious test of his hold on power in more than 10 years.
The snap election, called by Vucic in September, follows nearly two years of student protests. The demonstrations were sparked by the collapse of a railway station canopy in the city of Novi Sad in 2024, which killed 16 people. Students raised allegations of corruption linked to the incident and concerns about democratic governance in the country. The movement later gained broad support.
Unusually long queues formed outside polling stations in Belgrade and Novi Sad before voting began. Polls opened at 07:00 and will close at 20:00. Preliminary results are expected to be announced about two hours later.
A student victory in the Balkan country, which has a population of about 6 million, could bring major political change. AnewZ describes it as a potential turning point similar to Viktor Orban’s defeat in Hungary in April. The result could also serve as an example for other student movements in Europe that have protested in recent weeks against declining educational standards and limited future prospects.
Vucic resigned from the presidency after his second term to seek another term as prime minister. He is considered a strong candidate. Many voters credit him with advancing Serbia’s economy and overseeing modernisation projects, including highways, railways, schools and hospitals.
Ana, 30, who voted at a polling station in Belgrade, told Reuters: “I came early today because the students had called on us to do so.”
A close contest expected
On domestic policy, Vucic has pledged to raise pensions and public-sector wages, invest in public healthcare and provide subsidies to young couples. In foreign policy, he has balanced relations with China, a major investor, and Russia, Serbia’s traditional ally and main supplier of natural gas, while keeping open the prospect of European Union membership.
The students’ domestic agenda includes tackling corruption and improving education, but less is known about their plans for international policy. Their list, made up of 250 largely unknown candidates, includes university professors, actors and farmers. It is led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic.
Opinion polls point to a close race. An Ipsos poll published on Thursday found that 47% of voters backed Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), while 40% supported the students’ list. Some other polls, however, have put the students ahead.
The protests that began after the railway station disaster grew into the country’s largest demonstrations in a generation, with participants demanding Vucic’s resignation. Human rights groups and activists say repression has increased since then.
Vucic and the SNS have repeatedly denied allegations of repression, corruption and spying on opponents. Vucic has alleged that students are funded by foreign agents in Croatia and Montenegro. The students reject the accusation.
Addressing supporters on Thursday, Vucic said: “This was one of the most difficult, but also one of the most emotional campaigns. We stood against those who want to destroy Serbia.”
Tensions rise with the European Union
A Council of Europe human rights delegation, in a report following a visit to Serbia this month, noted “hostile and aggressive rhetoric” directed at opponents.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned a mass funeral held in Belgrade in September for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic. She said the ceremony was “contrary to the values” at the foundation of Serbia’s path to European Union membership.
