Serbia Votes Sunday as 150,000 Back Student Challenger to Vučić

Serbians cast ballots in a parliamentary election on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in a contest that analysts describe as exceptionally tight. The race pits Aleksandar Vučić, who has led the country in various capacities since 2012, against a student-driven movement that has emerged from nearly two years of anti-corruption protests.

The Student List was formed after 16 people died when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city. University faculty assemblies selected 250 candidates for the slate, prioritizing professionals over career politicians. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University, tops the list. He arrived for an interview on a motorbike wearing a yellow jacket with pro-student slogans, stating it is normal to stand with his students to help them in their fair struggle.

The movement lacks a formal hierarchy or a single nominated leader. Srdanović leads the list but is not its political head and may not be the first choice for prime minister if the group wins. The candidate roster includes academics, athletes, economists, and engineers, none of whom have prior political experience. Aleksandra, a student at Novi Sad University, described this composition as a strength, noting that the list gathered the best people in their specific fields.

Vučić, who stepped down as president last month to run for prime minister, retains strong support from voters who view him as a defender of national interests. He cites economic growth and infrastructure improvements over the past decade as key achievements. His Serbian Progressive Party maintains control over state institutions and media, a dominance the Student List argues skews the election. An International Election Observation Mission noted an overwhelming ruling party advantage in the 2023 vote due to media bias and the misuse of public resources.

The Novi Sad disaster complicates Vučić's position because the station renovation was part of his flagship high-speed rail project connecting Belgrade to Budapest. Magda Anastasijevic, an Eastern Europe analyst at the conflict monitor ACLED, said Vučić had previously survived crises by finding scapegoats but could not do so with the canopy collapse. A pro-government camp has occupied a small park in central Belgrade for 18 months, with residents repeatedly attacking journalists. Vučić has called the camp a symbol of resistance.

Foreign policy has become a central campaign issue. Serbia continues fitfully with European Union membership talks while maintaining close ties with Russia and China, both of which refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence. Vučić has warned that those links could be lost under a Student List government, asking at a rally whether the group would impose sanctions on Russia. The ruling party filled Belgrade Arena for a final rally with Vučić as the sole speaker, while a reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear students and candidates.