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Serbian voters will elect a new parliament on Sunday, with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), a student-backed list and several opposition coalitions competing for seats. Around 6.5 million people are registered to vote, according to Anadolu Agency.
The result will determine how the 250 seats in the National Assembly are distributed and which party or coalition can secure enough support to form the next government. The Republic Electoral Commission has reported 6,450,523 registered voters and 8,392 polling stations, including stations abroad and in prisons.
The campaign has also been marked by diplomatic tensions. Local media reported on Wednesday that Serbia had sent Croatia a protest note over alleged interference in Serbia’s domestic political affairs and election campaign.
The snap vote comes after months of student-led protests and Vucic’s resignation. He stepped down in late September and said he would seek the premiership as the SNS candidate. Having served two presidential terms, he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third. His resignation has also triggered the process for an early presidential election, which Serbian law requires to be held within three months.
Main contenders and their platforms
The ruling camp is represented by the electoral list “Aleksandar Vucic – United Serbia.” The SNS has been the dominant force in Serbian governing coalitions since 2012. Its campaign stresses political stability, infrastructure development, economic growth and continued investment, and the party points to its record in government, economic measures and development projects.
The “Student List – Students Win” emerged from the protest movement that followed the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16 people. Its campaign focuses on accountability, the rule of law and reforms to strengthen public institutions. Protesters have called for investigations into the disaster, publication of relevant documents and accountability for those responsible.
The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), led by Ivica Dacic, has taken part in successive governments, including coalitions with the SNS. It presents itself as a force for stability and emphasizes social protections, workers’ rights and the state’s role in economic policy. Dacic opposes recognizing Kosovo’s independence, imposing sanctions on Russia and joining NATO.
The opposition “European Serbia” coalition, associated with Marinika Tepic and Zdravko Ponos, supports EU membership. It identifies the rule of law, independent courts and anti-corruption measures as priorities, and has pledged not to support a government led by the SNS or its partners. The coalition presents the vote as an opportunity to change Serbia’s political direction.
The “Authentic Right” bloc, led by Milos Jovanovic, offers a nationalist and conservative alternative. It supports cooperation with the EU but opposes full membership, arguing that Serbia should retain its political sovereignty and that accession conditions should be debated publicly. Jovanovic has called for a referendum on EU membership.
Voting system and foreign policy issues
Serbia elects the 250 members of its National Assembly through proportional representation. Voters choose electoral lists, and seats are allocated according to the votes received. Most lists must receive at least 3% of valid votes to qualify for seats; lists representing national minorities are exempt from the threshold.
A party or coalition needs at least 126 seats for a parliamentary majority. If no bloc wins a majority, parties must negotiate to form a governing coalition. Polling stations are scheduled to open at 7 am and close at 8 pm local time. The electoral commission has also designated 60 polling stations in four Serbian municipalities for voters registered in Kosovo.
This is a parliamentary, not a presidential, election. The formation of parliament will determine which party or coalition can form the next government.
Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership but maintains political and economic relations with Russia and China. Belgrade has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Relations with Russia remain a significant domestic political issue, especially for parties opposed to sanctions and closer alignment with NATO.
Kosovo is another central issue. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence, and relations between Belgrade and Pristina remain a challenge for regional diplomacy and Serbia’s European integration process. Parties differ over the country’s alignment with the EU, whether it should sanction Russia and its approach to NATO. “European Serbia” advocates EU membership, the SPS opposes sanctions on Russia and NATO accession, and “Authentic Right” opposes full EU membership.
The vote will determine which parties can form a government and whether the SNS-led governing camp retains power. The performance of the student-backed list will show whether it can translate public mobilization into parliamentary representation. Smaller parties and minority representatives could also matter in coalition negotiations if leading contenders fail to win a majority.
The next government will face demands for accountability and institutional reform while managing economic priorities, relations with the EU and Russia, and the unresolved issue of Kosovo. The result will also shape Serbia’s domestic political balance and its approach to regional and international relations.
