Vucic Runs for Prime Minister as 500,000 Voter Files Lack Details
An inquiry found gaps in the electoral registry two days before ballots open, complicating a contest marked by surveillance allegations and stalled EU talks.
By Leila Reynolds ·
Serbia enters a tight parliamentary race with administrative flaws in its voter registry and external pressures on its foreign policy. Aleksandar Vucic, who led the country for fourteen years, resigned as president in late September to avoid a third term. He now campaigns for the prime minister role, a position he held from 2014 to 2017. The vote takes place on October 25.
RFE/RL’s Balkan Service identified approximately 500,000 registered voters without complete addresses. Many records lack street names or house numbers. The investigation also found hundreds of names listed at public facilities like social welfare centers and residential units that could not hold that many people. These issues mirror findings from the 2023 election, where observers noted voter transport from Bosnia-Hercegovina and intimidation tactics.
The election occurs days before the second anniversary of the Novi Sad tragedy. A railway station canopy collapsed on November 1, 2024, killing sixteen people. The disaster sparked nationwide protests over corruption at a Chinese-led construction project. Police used force against demonstrators, including an alleged sonic weapon incident on March 15, 2025. Vucic announced his resignation and set early elections after another student protest in June.
Polls show a divided electorate. Vladimir Bilcik, a former European Parliament rapporteur, called this the first vote in over a decade with a genuinely uncertain outcome. The student opposition lacks formal leaders. Its list is headed by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, a nonpartisan figure. The movement stated that Srdanovic’s lead position does not guarantee a premiership if they win.
The government claims it implemented all OSCE recommendations from its 2023 review. An interim report by the OSCE, which deployed 300 observers, contradicted this claim. RFE/RL found that eligible voter numbers in Bosnia and Kosovo increased before the vote. These regions are key sources of support for Vucic’s Progressive Party. Four employees of Serbia-funded institutions in Kosovo told RFE/RL they faced pressure to back the ruling party. Similar practices were documented in several Serbian municipalities.
Allegations of illegal surveillance add tension. A US Senate Foreign Relations Committee statement on October 21 cited reports of monitoring opposition members. Research by the Serbian nonprofit SHARE and Toronto University researchers alleged that at least sixteen cases of Pegasus software were used in 2026. The software is illegal in Serbia. Government officials denied targeting political rivals.
International observers note a decade-long decline in Serbian freedoms, according to the latest Freedom House report. US lawmakers warn that Moscow may influence the vote. European Parliament members raised concerns about Russian operations. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson said Russia is deploying resources to monitor citizens and the student movement. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for Vucic. Vucic pledged to maintain his foreign policy, including refusing EU sanctions on Russia. The student movement opposes sanctions and supports Belgrade’s stance of not recognizing Kosovo’s independence. Serbia has not opened a new EU accession chapter since late 2021.
