Serbia holds snap parliamentary election as student-backed list challenges Vucic's long‑standing rule

Polls opened across Serbia on Sunday, 25 October 2026, marking the most fiercely contested parliamentary election in the country in over 14 years. Voters chose among 18 electoral lists for the 250‑seat National Assembly, with the main competition framed as a showdown between the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) led by President Aleksandar Vucic and the newly formed Students’ List, a slate of candidates backed by a largely leaderless student movement.

The election was called as a snap vote after nearly two years of sustained student‑led protests that began in 2024 following the collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station, a disaster that killed 16 people and was widely attributed to corruption. The tragedy sparked some of Serbia’s largest demonstrations since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000, culminating in a final pre‑election rally in Belgrade that drew around 150,000 participants, according to an independent protest monitor.

Background

The 2024 canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station became a catalyst for a broader anti‑corruption movement among university students. Over the following two years, the movement organised rallies, marches and a campaign to present a unified electoral list – the Students’ List – composed mainly of experts from academia and the arts, many of whom had little prior political experience. While several established opposition parties chose not to field their own candidates, they urged supporters to back the student‑backed list, effectively consolidating anti‑SNS sentiment.

The Serbian Progressive Party, which has dominated Serbian politics since taking power in 2012, has traditionally outperformed a fragmented opposition. However, the student movement’s ability to mobilise large crowds and challenge the SNS’s media dominance has been described as unprecedented in the past decade. Turnout expectations were unusually high, with Serbia’s 6.4 million registered voters anticipated to exceed the historical average of just above 55 percent seen during SNS rule.

Why it matters

The election’s outcome could reshape Serbia’s political landscape after more than a decade of Vucic’s right‑wing populist governance. A victory for the Students’ List would represent the most significant challenge to the SNS since it assumed office, potentially influencing anti‑corruption and anti‑repression policies domestically. International observers noted that the contest also serves as a barometer for broader youth‑led protest movements across Europe, which have been gaining momentum in recent years.

The stakes extend beyond Serbia’s borders, as the European Union and other regional actors monitor the election for signs of democratic resilience or regression. The student movement’s emphasis on accountability for the 2024 disaster underscores ongoing public demand for transparent governance, a factor that could affect Serbia’s EU accession talks and foreign investment climate.

What happens next

Vote counting began immediately after polls closed, with early indications of a tight race between the SNS and the Students’ List. The final composition of the 250‑member parliament will determine whether Vucic can retain a governing majority or if a coalition involving the student‑backed list and other smaller parties will be required to form a government. Sources note that the election results will be announced in the coming days, after which the new parliament is expected to convene and appoint a prime minister.

The election also marks a potential turning point for the student movement, which may transition from protest to legislative influence if it secures parliamentary seats. Conversely, a loss could prompt a reassessment of tactics among youth activists seeking systemic change in Serbia.

The international community, including the EU and various human‑rights organisations, has pledged to observe the post‑election process closely, emphasizing the importance of a transparent and credible outcome for Serbia’s democratic trajectory.