The campaign for the October 25 parliamentary elections in Serbia has entered its decisive hours, as the latest polls show a tight race between President Aleksandar Vučić’s Progressive Party of Serbia (SNS) and the student movement that emerged from the protests after the Novi Sad tragedy.
For the first time in many years, the government faces a serious electoral challenge, while international observers express concerns about the political climate and the electoral process.
The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of President Aleksandar Vucic closed the electoral campaign this Wednesday with a mass rally in the city of Nis.
In his speech to supporters, Vucic again accused the anti-government protests of the past two years of being financed and organized by foreign services with the aim of destabilizing Serbia and overthrowing his government.
However, the Serbian leader was convinced of the victory of his political force in Sunday’s elections, declaring that after the votes he will extend a hand of cooperation to political opponents “for the good of Serbia”.
The leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik, also participated in the SNS gathering, who praised Vucic’s role in protecting Serbian national interests. Dodik also stated that during a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the latter had expressed support for the Serbian president.
On the other side of the political scene, the “Student List” movement is closing the campaign with a large mobilization in Belgrade. The movement was created after the tragic collapse of the railway station shelter in Novi Sad in November 2024, which caused widespread protests against the authorities.
Tens of thousands of citizens are expected to participate in the closing gathering of students, while since Wednesday evening large groups of young people and supporters have arrived in the capital after several days of marches from different cities of the country.
The student movement, organized through open assemblies and without formal political leaders, has presented 250 candidates for the Serbian parliament. The election list includes university professors, farmers, former judges, actors and well-known sports figures, among them the well-known former Serbian basketball player Dejan Bodiroga.
Recent polls show a significant upheaval in the political landscape. According to the measurements of the Institute of New Serbian Political Thought (NSPM), “Student List” leads with 44.5 percent of support, against 42.7 percent for Vucic’s SNS. Other polls give an even bigger advantage to the student movement, while only a few measurements continue to give the ruling party a minimal lead.
Analysts estimate that the high turnout, which is expected to exceed 60 percent, could favor opposition forces and candidates supported by civic protests.
The European Parliament has sent a special mission of observers to monitor the process, while the Serbian authorities have criticized the composition of the delegation.
On the other hand, President Vučić has accused some international observers of bias against Serbia.
The political climate has become even more tense over the past 24 hours, as Serbian police have launched operations and arrested activists in Belgrade and Novi Sad.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, six people were arrested on suspicion of inciting riots on election day.
The student movement has reacted by claiming that the actions of the authorities aim to intimidate activists and voters a few days before the election process.
The parliamentary elections on October 25 are considered one of the biggest political challenges in recent years for Aleksandar Vučić, while the result is expected to show whether the long-running student protests will translate into a significant change in the Serbian political scene.
