Student List Targets 40 Percent as Serbia Votes

Serbia holds its parliamentary election on Sunday, marking the first potentially competitive vote since the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) took power in 2012. The Student List, a coalition backed by a student movement that has protested the government for nearly two years, enters the race with polling numbers indicating it could secure more than 40 percent of the vote. Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic described the election as unlike any in the past decade, noting the outcome remains uncertain.

Thousands of supporters gathered in Belgrade on Thursday evening for the Student List's final campaign rally. Many attendees had walked for days from various regions of the country to the capital, a journey intended to demonstrate solidarity and peaceful resolve. Arsa Stojanovic, a biology student, told the crowd that the walkers had traversed the nation, visited local communities, and found widespread support. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, stated that the atmosphere "smells like freedom." The event concluded with a traditional circle dance known as a kolo.

The student movement launched its protests in November 2024 after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station, killing 16 people. The group frames the election as an opportunity to address corruption and demand accountability for the disaster, which they view as a symbol of institutional failure. They have attempted to move beyond traditional ideological and foreign policy divisions to build a cross-cutting coalition.

The SNS held its own closing rally a few kilometers away, emphasizing stability and continuity. Former President Aleksandar Vucic told supporters that opponents had attempted to destroy the country on foreign orders and had used billions of euros to attack the party. The ruling party argues that a change in government risks chaos and that the election is a battle for Serbia's sovereignty.

The campaign period was marked by frequent disruptions. The independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats by the final week, including attacks on campaigners and seizures of campaign materials. CRTA reported that opposition activists, particularly those associated with the Student List, faced surveillance and delayed police protection. The group concluded that the campaign was neither free nor fair, citing a narrowing of freedoms.

CRTA data shows that government representatives received nearly three-quarters of airtime on national television, while over 80 percent of coverage regarding the Student List was negative. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former SNS member describing pressure on public sector employees to deliver votes. Anonymous sources told Deutsche Welle that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, or family holiday packages, to support the SNS.

Authorities have warned for weeks of potential street violence on election night, alleging that students are aided by foreign intelligence services. Several individuals have been arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances. Spasojevic noted that a decisive victory for either side would be ideal, but polls point to a narrow margin. He added that a close SNS victory would likely be contested, and the student movement has vowed to defend every vote. An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations on Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented, stressing that democracy is central to the country's accession process.

Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012. The European Union is watching the results closely, with officials indicating that their response could influence how authorities handle potential post-election protests and the acceptance of the outcome.