Serbia votes Sunday as Srdanović's student group tests Vučić

Serbia heads to the polls on Sunday for parliamentary elections that analysts expect to be extremely close. The contest pits Aleksandar Vučić, who has held top executive roles since 2012, against a student-driven movement that has emerged from nearly two years of anti-corruption protests. Reliable polling data is scarce, making the outcome difficult to predict, but the race represents a distinct shift in the country's democratic history.

The Student List originated after 16 people died when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, the nation's second-largest city. Rather than selecting candidates through traditional party channels, student assemblies at university faculties chose 250 nominees. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University, heads the list. He arrived for a recent interview on a motorbike wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket with pro-student slogans. "It is absolutely normal to stand with my students to help them in their fair struggle," Srdanović said.

The movement lacks a formal hierarchy or nominated leader. Srdanović is not the group's leader and may not be the first choice for prime minister if the bloc wins. The candidate list includes academics, athletes, economists, and engineers, none of whom have prior political backgrounds. Aleksandra, a student at Novi Sad University who spoke on condition of providing only her first name, described the composition as a strength. "We've gathered people who are actually the best in their fields," she said.

Vučić called the snap election last month and stood down as president to run for prime minister. He retains strong support among voters who view him as a strong defender of national interests. He points to economic growth and infrastructure improvements over the past decade. However, he has described the student movement as foreign-backed and intent on trying to "bring down our state." The Student List and its backers argue that Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party dominate state institutions and media coverage.

An International Election Observation Mission report from 2023 noted an "overwhelming ruling party advantage" driven by media bias and the misuse of public resources. For 18 months, a pro-government camp has occupied a small park in central Belgrade. Residents of the camp have repeatedly attacked journalists, a situation Vučić has called "a symbol of resistance." The ruling party did not respond to interview requests from the BBC.

The Novi Sad disaster remains Vučić's most pressing issue because the station renovation was part of his flagship Belgrade to Budapest high-speed rail project. Magda Anastasijevic, an Eastern Europe analyst at ACLED, said Vučić had survived previous crises by finding a scapegoat. "This was not the case for the canopy," she said. Foreign policy has also entered the campaign, with Vučić warning that Serbia's close ties with Russia and China could be lost under a Student List government.

Closing rallies highlighted the contrast between the two sides. The ruling party filled Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the sole speaker. A reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear students and candidates address the crowd. Voters must now choose between a single strong leader and a collective approach to governance.