Serbian Voters Face Choice Between Stability and Student Challenge

Serbia held its parliamentary election on Sunday, marking the first competitive contest in 14 years under the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The vote follows almost two years of student-led protests that began after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 16 people.

Thousands gathered in Belgrade on Thursday evening for the final rally of the Student List, a coalition of candidates emerging from the protest movement. Many attendees had walked for days from across the country to reach the capital. Arsa Stojanovic, a biology student, told the crowd that the walkers had traversed the nation and found broad public support. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and Student List candidate, described the atmosphere as smelling like freedom. The event concluded with a traditional circle dance known as a kolo.

Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic stated that the election is the first since Aleksandar Vucic took power in 2012 to have an uncertain outcome. He noted that recent polls suggest the Student List could secure more than 40% of the vote. In contrast, the SNS held its own closing rally nearby, positioning its platform around stability, continuity, and prosperity. The ruling party argued that a change in government risks chaos and accused opponents of serving foreign interests.

Former President Vucic addressed supporters, claiming opponents attempted to destroy the country on foreign orders and attacked the party with billions of euros. The campaign was marked by frequent friction, with the independent monitoring group CRTA recording 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats by the final week. These incidents included attacks on campaigners and attempts to seize banners. CRTA reported that opposition activists faced surveillance and police questioning, while police often delayed protecting opposition candidates.

Media access skewed heavily toward the government, with almost three-quarters of national television airtime granted to government representatives. More than 80% 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 warned for weeks that the student movement, allegedly aided by foreign intelligence, was preparing for street violence. Several individuals were arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances for election night. Spasojevic said a decisive victory for either side would be ideal, but polls indicate a narrow margin that could lead to a post-election crisis. He added that a small SNS victory would likely be contested, with the movement vowing to defend every vote.

An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations for improving Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. The official stressed that democracy and the rule of law are central to Serbia's accession process, which began when the country became a candidate in 2012.