Student List Seeks 40 Percent to End SNS Rule in Serbia

Serbia held its parliamentary election on Sunday, marking the first competitive contest in the 14 years since the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) took office. On Thursday evening, thousands gathered in Belgrade for the final rally of the Student List, the candidate group backed by the student movement that has protested the government for nearly two years. Many attendees had walked for days from various parts of the country to the capital, a demonstration of solidarity that ended with a traditional kolo circle dance.

The Student List is targeting a share of the vote exceeding 40 percent. Dusan Spasojevic, a political scientist, noted that polls suggest the movement could achieve this threshold. He described these elections as the first since Aleksandar Vucic came to power in 2012 with an uncertain outcome. Spasojevic stated that the movement has generated substantial support and hope among voters.

The campaign was defined by a sharp divide between the parties' core messages. The Student List presented the vote as a chance to confront corruption and demand accountability for the Novi Sad railway station disaster. That concrete canopy collapse in November 2024 killed 16 people and became a symbol of institutional failure. In contrast, the SNS framed the election as a battle for stability, continuity, and prosperity. Former President Vucic told supporters that opponents were serving foreign interests and had attacked the party with billions of euros.

Tensions rose during the final week of campaigning due to reported violence and surveillance. The independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats. These included attacks on campaigners and attempts to seize campaign banners. CRTA also reported that opposition activists, particularly those linked to the Student List, faced police questioning and surveillance. The group concluded that the campaign was neither free nor fair, citing a narrowing of freedoms and deepening inequality.

Media coverage skewed heavily toward the ruling party according to CRTA's report. Almost three-quarters of airtime on national television went to government representatives. More than 80 percent of coverage concerning the Student List was negative. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former SNS member describing pressure on public-sector employees to deliver votes. Anonymous sources also told reporters that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, or holiday packages, to support the SNS.

Authorities have warned for weeks that students, allegedly aided by foreign intelligence services, are preparing street violence. Several individuals have been arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances for election night. Spasojevic said a decisive win for either side would be the best outcome, but polls point to a narrow margin that could trigger a post-election crisis. He added that a narrow SNS victory would almost certainly be contested, as the movement has vowed to defend every vote.

The European Union is watching the outcome closely. An EU Commission spokesperson told reporters that key recommendations on improving Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. The spokesperson stressed that democracy and the rule of law are central to the accession process. Serbia has held candidate status for the EU since 2012.