Serbian student movement challenges Vučić in snap parliamentary elections

After two years of protests, Student List puts forward 250 candidates in Sunday's vote

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time3 min

A mass student movement that has shaken Serbia with two years of protests will contest parliamentary elections on Sunday, posing the most serious challenge to Aleksandar Vučić in his 12 years in power. The Student List, born from outrage over a deadly railway station collapse, is fielding 250 candidates, mostly academics and professionals, on an anti-corruption platform. Opinion polls show a close race, raising the risk of post-election unrest if either side rejects the result.

On a cool autumn evening in the Belgrade suburb of Krnjača, student volunteers from the movement went door-to-door, equipped with lanyards reading "victory" and a mobile app to map support. They were welcomed warmly. Residents complained of poor roads, failing sewers and widespread corruption. "Turnout is the key," one taxi-driver supporter said, citing the recent defeat of Viktor Orbán in neighbouring Hungary.

The protests began after the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad railway station on 1 November 2024 killed 16 people. Evidence pointed to botched modifications during refurbishment, but no official has been held accountable. When Belgrade students blocked a road in vigil three weeks later, they were attacked by a mob affiliated with Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), and the movement went nationwide.

The Student List initially shunned traditional hierarchy and political parties, organising through plenary sessions. Candidates were nominated by university faculties and vetted by plenums; more than 160 hold doctorates. The platform avoids divisive foreign policy issues, leaving EU membership to a future referendum and claiming Kosovo as part of Serbia.

Vučić stepped down as president in September, triggering early elections in an apparent bid to catch the students off guard. He now aims to become prime minister, extending his hold on power. He has stepped up his campaign, making 129 live television appearances in August. State-run media often smear opponents, but the students' collective leadership offers few targets.

"Serbia has been an electoral autocracy," said Raša Nedeljkov, programme director at the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA). He said the homogeneous government Vučić used to have was no longer there and that Vučić faced a completely unorthodox political actor.

Milica Jovanović, an assistant professor and candidate, said: "We are political amateurs, but we are experts. We are people who have led projects, led organisations." Corruption is the movement's central issue; Serbia ranks as the most corrupt country in Europe bar Belarus and Russia on Transparency International's index. The government denies the claims.

If the Student List wins, it would emulate the defeat of Vučić's ally Orbán six months ago, potentially sparking a democratic resurgence across central Europe. But both sides may struggle to accept defeat, and analysts warn of possible street clashes.

Analysis

Why This Matters

A Student List victory could end Vučić's 12-year rule and inspire democratic movements across central Europe, following the recent defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary.
The election tests whether an anti-corruption, grassroots movement can break through in an electoral autocracy where the ruling party controls state media and institutions.
A disputed result risks post-election violence in a country where protests have already been met with mob attacks.

Background

The student movement was sparked by the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse on 1 November 2024, which killed 16 people. The government has not held anyone accountable, and the protest grew into a nationwide movement after students were attacked by SNS supporters. The movement avoided formal leadership and traditional party structures, instead organising through plenary sessions. Vučić resigned as president in September, calling snap elections in an apparent bid to regain the initiative. He now seeks to become prime minister.

Key Perspectives

Student List: Argues that Serbia must choose between "Serbia or Mafia". Its candidates are political amateurs but experts in their fields, and the movement has built a decentralised campaign focused on turnout and anti-corruption. Aleksandar Vučić and SNS: Denies accusations of corruption and links to organised crime, claiming to tackle crime and deliver economic growth. The campaign relies on state media dominance, nationalist rhetoric and a large number of television appearances. Observers and analysts: CRTA and Stanford surveys have shown strong support for the students, but more recent domestic polls (seen as pro-government) give the SNS the lead. The status quo is fragile; Vučić's previously homogeneous government is showing cracks.

What to Watch

Turnout on Sunday, especially among young and first-time voters; canvassers report that high turnout could be decisive.
Any allegations of election irregularities or post-election protests and clashes between rival supporters.
The response of international observers and the EU, which may influence the legitimacy of the outcome.

Sources

A student protest movement has gripped Serbia for two years. This weekend it will try to take power · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedA taxi-driver supporter said, “Turnout is the key,” citing Viktor Orbán’s recent defeat.World news | The Guardian: “some taxi drivers with flats in the low-rise apartment blocks said they would help ferry voters to the polling stations. “Turnout is the key,” one said, adding: “Orbán fell with 80%””
SupportedRaša Nedeljkov said, “Serbia has been an electoral autocracy.”World news | The Guardian: ““Serbia has been an electoral autocracy and in electoral autocracies only ruling political parties can win,” Raša Nedeljkov, CRTA’s programme director, said.”
SupportedMilica Jovanović said, “We are political amateurs, but we are experts. We are people who have led projects, led organisations.”World news | The Guardian: ““We are political amateurs, but we are experts,” Jovanović said. “We are people who have led projects, led organisations, led our community”
SupportedThe Student List poses the most serious challenge to Vučić in his 12 years in power.World news | The Guardian: “On Sunday, the group will represent the most serious challenge Aleksandar Vučić has faced in his 12 increasingly authoritarian years in power”
SupportedAfter two years of protests, the Student List is putting forward 250 candidates in Sunday’s parliamentary vote.World news | The Guardian: “This weekend it will try to take power.”
Partly supportedThe candidates are mostly academics and professionals.World news | The Guardian: “The 250 candidates were mostly nominated by university faculties (there are more than 160 doctorates among them) with a sprinkling of farmers and other professions”
Partly supportedThe Student List is running on an anti-corruption platform.World news | The Guardian: “Corruption was the most frequent single complaint.”
Partly supportedOpinion polls show a close race.World news | The Guardian: “Opinion polls have varied wildly, but many expert observers say a close race is quite possible”
SupportedThe Novi Sad railway-station canopy collapse on 1 November 2024 killed 16 people.World news | The Guardian: “the collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad railway station on 1 November 2024, killing 16 people.”
SupportedStudents blocking a road in vigil three weeks later were attacked by a mob affiliated with Vučić’s SNS.World news | The Guardian: “When Belgrade students blocked a road in a vigil for the victims three weeks after the disaster, they were attacked by a SNS mob”
Partly supportedVučić stepped down as president in September, triggering early elections.World news | The Guardian: “Vučić gambled, announcing his resignation as president on 28 September and calling snap elections, in the apparent hope of catching the students off guard”
SupportedVučić made 129 live television appearances in August.World news | The Guardian: “making 129 live television appearances in August, more than four times the previous month’s total.”

Correction

21 October 2026An earlier version of this story presented a paraphrase of Raša Nedeljkov's remarks as a direct quotation. The passage now uses reported speech.