Serbia Braces for Tight Vote as Student Movement Challenges Vučić

WHO:

BBC News - The Student List, a group of candidates put forward by Serbia’s student movement, emerged as the biggest challenge to Aleksandar Vučić’s rule after almost two years of anti-corruption protests.

DW.com - Biology student Arsa Stojanovic told rallygoers, “We have walked across Serbia from one end to the other, visited villages and neighborhoods, looked you in the eye and realized that we can count on you.”

DW.com - Aleksandar Cupic, a professor of transport and traffic engineering and Student List candidate, said, “People, it smells like freedom.”

DW.com - Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic said the election was competitive and its outcome uncertain; he said polls suggested the Student List could win more than 40% of the vote.

DW.com - Aleksandar Vucic addressed supporters at a ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rally. The article identifies him as “former President” in a quotation and says he was president in the account; he said, “They attacked us with billions of euros, and we defended ourselves with integrity, our program, love for our homeland and Serbia's achievements.”

DW.com - CRTA, an independent election-monitoring organization, reported campaign violence, threats, surveillance and police questioning of opposition activists, particularly those linked to the Student List.

DW.com - The EU Commission spokesperson said key recommendations for improving Serbia’s electoral framework remained unimplemented and stressed democracy and the rule of law as important to EU accession.

WHAT:

DW.com - The Student List called for ending the current regime through the parliamentary election and framed its campaign around confronting corruption and demanding accountability.

DW.com - CRTA recorded 116 incidents involving physical violence or verbal threats during the campaign, including confrontations, attacks on campaigners and attempts to seize banners.

DW.com - CRTA reported that almost three-quarters of national television airtime devoted to political players featured government representatives; more than 80% of coverage of the Student List was negative.

DW.com - DW sources said voters were offered €30–€150 to vote for SNS; holiday packages were reportedly offered to families in exchange for pledging all their votes to the ruling party.

DW.com - BIRN published testimony from a former SNS member alleging public-sector employees were pressured to deliver votes for the party.

DW.com - Several people were arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances on election night, according to the prosecution.

WHERE:

DW.com - Thousands attended the Student List’s final rally in Belgrade; the SNS held its own final rally a few kilometers away.

DW.com - The protests began after a concrete canopy collapsed at Novi Sad railway station.

WHEN:

DW.com - The protests began after the November 2024 canopy collapse, which killed 16 people; the movement had protested for almost two years.

DW.com - Serbia’s parliamentary election was described as taking place “on Sunday.” No calendar date is provided.

WHY:

DW.com - The protests were sparked by the canopy collapse, which the article says became a symbol of institutional failure.

DW.com - The SNS presented itself as a guarantor of stability and continuity, while accusing opponents of serving foreign interests.

HOW:

DW.com - Student supporters walked to Belgrade from across Serbia for the final rally; the movement ended the rally with a traditional Serbian kolo circle dance.

DW.com - The Student List appeared as number three on the ballot and vowed to defend every vote.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 07:12 UTC)

Serbia’s Student List, a slate backed by the student movement, has emerged as the strongest challenge to Aleksandar Vučić’s rule in a parliamentary election after nearly two years of anti-corruption protests. The movement began after a railway-station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people, becoming a symbol of institutional failure. At a final rally in Belgrade, thousands heard candidates call for accountability, while Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party urged voters to choose stability and continuity. Political scientist Dušan Spasojević said the contest was competitive and unpredictable, with polls suggesting the Student List could win more than 40 percent. Election monitor CRTA recorded 116 incidents of violence or threats and reported that government representatives dominated political television coverage. It also said most coverage of the Student List was negative. Reports described offers of cash or holiday packages for votes, and arrests over alleged plans to disrupt election night.