Serbia Votes Sunday as Vučić Faces Student-Built Slate

Serbian voters cast ballots on Sunday in a parliamentary election that analysts predict will end in a narrow margin. The contest contrasts Aleksandar Vučić, who has held executive power in various roles since 2012, against a student-led movement that emerged from recent anti-corruption protests.

The Student List formed after 16 people died when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad. University assemblies in the country selected 250 candidates, including academics, athletes, economists, and engineers. None of the candidates has prior political experience. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University, heads the list. He told the BBC that it is normal to stand with students to support their fair struggle.

Vučić called the snap election last month and stepped down as president to seek the prime minister role. He maintains support among voters who view him as a strong defender of national interests, citing economic growth and infrastructure projects. He has characterized the student movement as foreign-backed and aimed at bringing down the state. He also warned that Serbia’s close ties with Russia and China could be lost if the new list governs, asking at a rally if they would impose sanctions on Russia.

The Student List argues that Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party controls state institutions and media. The International Election Observation Mission reported an overwhelming ruling party advantage in the 2023 vote due to media bias and misuse of public resources. A pro-government camp has occupied a small park in central Belgrade for 18 months. Residents of the camp have repeatedly attacked journalists, a presence Vučić called 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 to Budapest. Magda Anastasijevic, an analyst at ACLED, noted that Vučić previously survived crises by finding scapegoats but could not do so for the canopy collapse. She described the incident as a unique challenge for the incumbent.

Closing rallies highlighted the difference in style. The ruling party filled Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the sole speaker. A reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear students and candidates. Voters decide between a single strong leader and a collective approach on Sunday.