Serbia election: Can student-led opposition end Aleksandar Vucic's grip on power?
Voting is underway in Serbia in a closely contested election that could end more than a decade of rule by Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Polls suggest a tight race between the SNS and the newly formed, youth-backed Students' List, which emerged from a mass student protest movement. The protests were sparked by the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in 2024, which killed 16 people and stirred widespread anger over alleged corruption and poor construction standards.
Protests grow into movement
The demonstrations demanding accountability have snowballed into Serbia's largest movement since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. What began with university students staging blockades and marches soon drew support from teachers, farmers and other sections of Serbian society, turning a demand for justice over the disaster into a broader challenge to Vucic's grip on power.
Vucic's constitutional limitation
The SNS has dominated Serbian politics since winning parliamentary elections in 2012. Vucic first came to power as prime minister in 2014 before becoming president in 2017. After calling snap elections last month, he stepped down as president to run for prime minister, as Serbia's constitution prevents him from serving a third presidential term.
We will heed the democratic will of the citizens. You can win or lose an election. Either way, we will act responsibly.
EU and international context
The election is being closely watched in Europe, as Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership but its accession process has been hampered by concerns over democratic standards. Vucic has maintained close ties with Russia and refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The vote comes six months after Peter Magyar's victory in Hungary, when he defeated Vucic's ally, Viktor Orban.
By 1 p.m. local time, turnout stood at 41.1%, up from 26.6% at the same stage in the previous election, according to independent monitor CRTA. Polling stations close at 8 p.m. local time, with results expected to follow.
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