Serbia’s Students Challenge Vučić’s 12-Year Grip on Power

WHO:

BBC - President Vučić has participated in every Serbian election since the introduction of the multi-party election system.

BBC News - Serbian students have led a protest movement challenging Vučić’s 12 years of rule.

BBC - A woman speaking to the BBC from Belgrade said defeating Vučić would not be easy.

WHAT:

BBC News - Serbians are voting in elections that could bring down the ruling party.

BBC - The speaker said, “He's been running in all elections Serbia has had since the introduction of multi-party election system - so obviously defeating him isn't going to be easy, but this time around President Vučić isn't going to have an easy time either.”

BBC News - The student protest movement is challenging 12 years of Vučić rule.

WHERE:

BBC - The woman interviewed by the BBC spoke from Belgrade.

BBC News - The elections and student protests concern Serbia.

WHY:

BBC News - The elections are significant because they could bring down the ruling party.

HOW:

BBC News - Students have challenged Vučić’s rule through a protest movement.

BBC - The speaker said Vučić’s repeated participation in Serbian elections would make defeating him difficult, though she said he would face a difficult contest in this election.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 20:21 UTC)

Serbians are voting in elections that could bring down the ruling party, as a student-led protest movement challenges President Vučić’s 12 years in power. Vučić has taken part in every Serbian election since the introduction of the multi-party system, making him a familiar and enduring figure in the country’s politics. But the contest is unfolding amid a strong challenge from students, who have organized protests against his rule. A woman speaking from Belgrade said defeating Vučić would not be easy, given his long record of standing in elections. She also said he would face a difficult contest this time around. The vote is significant because it could decide whether the ruling party remains in power, while the student movement has brought renewed pressure to bear on Vučić’s leadership.