150,000 Gather as Serbia Votes in Tightest Race in Years

Serbia held its parliamentary election on Sunday, 2026-10-23, in a contest that analysts predict will be extremely close. The vote pits the country’s long-serving leader, Aleksandar Vučić, against a new political force driven by young people.

The Student List emerged from nearly two years of anti-corruption protests. The demonstrations began after 16 people died when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city. University assemblies selected 250 candidates for the ballot, led by Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University.

Srdanović is not a nominated leader but the top name on the list. He arrived for an interview on a motorbike wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket with pro-student slogans. He stated, “It is absolutely normal to stand with my students to help them in their fair struggle.” The list includes academics, athletes, engineers, and economists, none of whom have prior political backgrounds.

Vučić has held various high offices since 2012, including prime minister and president. He stepped down as president last month to run for prime minister in this snap election. He maintains strong support among voters who view him as a protector of national interests, citing economic growth and infrastructure projects from the past decade. However, he has described the student movement as foreign-backed and aiming to “bring down our state.”

Critics argue that Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party controls state institutions and media. An International Election Observation Mission noted an “overwhelming ruling party advantage” in the 2023 vote due to media bias and misuse of public resources. For 18 months, a pro-government camp has occupied a park in central Belgrade, with residents repeatedly attacking journalists. Vučić calls the camp “a symbol of resistance.”

The Novi Sad disaster complicates Vučić’s position because the station renovation was part of his flagship high-speed rail project linking Belgrade to Budapest. Magda Anastasijevic, an analyst at conflict monitor ACLED, said he usually survives crises by finding a scapegoat, but “This was not the case for the canopy.” Foreign policy also plays a role, as Serbia balances EU talks with ties to Russia and China. Vučić warned that a Student List government might lose those ties, asking at a rally if they would impose sanctions on Russia.

The final rallies highlighted the contrast between the two sides. The ruling party filled Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the sole speaker. In contrast, a reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear from students and candidates.