Serbia votes as student bloc challenges Vučić

Serbians head to the polls on Sunday to choose between a single strong leader and a collective student movement. Analysts predict an extremely close result, though reliable polls are scarce. The vote marks a turning point for the country’s political structure, pitting Aleksandar Vučić, who has held top executive roles since 2012, against a new force born from two years of protest.

The Student List emerged after a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. Student assemblies at university faculties selected 250 candidates, including academics, athletes, and engineers. None have prior political experience. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University, tops the list. He is not the formal leader and would not automatically become prime minister if the group wins power.

Vučić called the snap election last month and stepped down as president to run for prime minister. He cites economic growth and infrastructure projects over the past decade as key achievements. His supporters view him as a strong defender of national interests. He has criticized the student movement as foreign-backed and aimed at dismantling the state. The International Election Observation Mission noted in 2023 that ruling party dominance was aided by media bias and misuse of public resources.

The Novi Sad disaster remains a central issue because the station renovation was part of the Belgrade to Budapest high-speed rail project. Magda Anastasijevic, an analyst at ACLED, stated that Vučić typically survives crises by finding a scapegoat, but the canopy incident did not fit that pattern. A pro-government camp has occupied a park in central Belgrade for 18 months, and its residents have attacked journalists. Vučić calls this camp a symbol of resistance.

Foreign policy has also entered the campaign. Serbia maintains EU membership talks while keeping close ties with Russia and China, both of which do not recognize Kosovo’s independence. Vučić warned that these links could be lost under a Student List government. At a recent rally, he asked if the group would impose sanctions on Russia. The movement argues that Vučić’s party dominates state institutions and media coverage.

Final campaign rallies highlighted the contrast in leadership styles. The ruling party held an event at Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the sole speaker. In Belgrade’s Slavija Square, a reported 150,000 people gathered to hear from students and candidates. A student at Novi Sad University said the list’s strength lies in gathering top professionals from various fields. Voters now face a choice between established leadership and a new, non-hierarchical approach.