Voting began Sunday in Serbia in a hotly contested election that could end more than a decade of rule by longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Polls suggest a close race between the SNS and the new, youth-backed Student List, which emerged from a mass student protest movement.
The protests were sparked by the deadly collapse of the canopy of a train station in the city of NoviSad in 2024.
The disaster killed 16 people and sparked widespread anger over allegations of corruption, poor construction standards and a lack of accountability in public infrastructure projects. Protesters accused the government of allowing corruption and political cronyism to undermine public safety, allegations authorities have denied.
Protests demanding accountability have since grown to become the largest movement in Serbia since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
What began with university students organizing blockades and marches quickly attracted support from teachers, farmers and other sections of Serbian society, transforming the demand for justice following the disaster into a broader challenge to Vucic’s grip on power.
Vucic faces tough electoral challenge
The SNS won parliamentary elections in 2012 and has dominated Serbian politics ever since. Vucic himself came to power as prime minister in 2014 before becoming president in 2017.
After calling snap elections last month, Vucic resigned as president to run for prime minister.
His second presidential term was due to expire in May 2027 and the Serbian constitution prevents him from serving a third term.
Critics have accused him of concentrating power, undermining independent media and weakening democratic institutions. He and his party deny the allegations.
The student movement sought to channel the energy of street protests into an electoral challenge, presenting itself as an alternative to both the ruling party and Serbia’s established opposition.
The election is also being closely watched in Europe. Serbia is a candidate for membership in the European Union, but its accession process has been hampered by concerns over democratic standards and the rule of law.
Vucic has also maintained close ties with Russia and refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
The vote comes six months after Peter Magyar’s victory in Hungary, when he defeated Vucic’s ally Viktor Orban.
Polling stations close at 8:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. GMT).
Edited by: Natalie Muller
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