Serbia Student List Targets 40 Percent Vote as SNS Defends Fourteen Year Hold

Serbia enters its Sunday parliamentary election with the possibility of a decisive shift in power after fourteen years of continuous rule by the Serbian Progressive Party. Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic described the contest as the first competitive election since 2012, noting that current polling data indicates the Student List could capture more than 40 percent of the vote.

The Student List, formed by a student movement that has protested the government for nearly two years, held its final campaign rally in Belgrade on Thursday evening. Thousands of supporters gathered, many of whom had walked for days from various regions of the country to reach the capital. Biology student Arsa Stojanovic addressed the crowd, stating that the group had traversed Serbia and found support in rural areas and urban neighborhoods. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, told the attendees that the atmosphere smelled like freedom.

The movement traces its origins to a concrete canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, which killed 16 people. The students frame the election as a direct response to that disaster, seeking accountability for institutional failure. They aim to move beyond traditional ideological and foreign policy divisions that have historically defined Serbian politics.

The ruling Serbian Progressive Party held a separate rally a few kilometers away, emphasizing stability and prosperity. Former President Aleksandar Vucic argued that opponents were acting on foreign orders to destroy the country. He claimed that his party had been attacked with billions of euros and portrayed the election as a struggle for national sovereignty.

The campaign was marked by friction and accusations of unfairness. The independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats during the final weeks. These incidents included attacks on campaigners and attempts to remove campaign materials. CRTA reported that opposition activists faced surveillance and police questioning, with delays in protecting opposition supporters.

Media coverage analysis by CRTA showed that nearly three-quarters of national television airtime was allocated to government representatives. More than 80 percent of the coverage dedicated to the Student List was negative. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former party member describing pressure on public sector employees to deliver votes. Anonymous sources indicated that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, or family holiday packages, to support the ruling party.

Authorities have warned of potential street violence on election night, claiming students are aided by foreign intelligence services. Several individuals have been arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances. Spasojevic noted that a narrow victory for either side could lead to a post-election crisis, with a close win for the ruling party likely to be contested. The Student List has vowed to defend every vote cast.

An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations for improving Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. The spokesperson emphasized that democracy and the rule of law are central to Serbia's accession process, a status the country has held since 2012.