Thousands greet student marchers in Belgrade as Serbia heads to tense election

Populist Vucic holds rival rally in south, with polls showing a close contest between his party and the youth-led Students' List

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

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Thousands of residents lined the streets of Belgrade on Wednesday to welcome student marchers arriving from across Serbia ahead of a final rally on Thursday before Sunday's tense parliamentary election that pits the country's authoritarian leader Aleksandar Vucic against a youth movement born during almost two years of protests.

The early election on Sunday is seen as a showdown between Vucic's right-wing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Students' List, a group that emerged from months of demonstrations triggered by a train station tragedy that killed 16 people in the country's north. The youth movement, blaming alleged corruption-fueled negligence during renovation work, has rattled Vucic more than any other challenge during his 12 years as both prime minister and president.

Belgrade residents lit flares and cheered as students arrived from various directions after walking through rural areas that are Vucic's traditional strongholds. Ilija Srdanovic, a physician running on the Students' List ticket, told N1 television that "this is incredible, this energy is unstoppable."

Vucic held a rally in the southern city of Nis in front of thousands of flag-waving supporters. The former president resigned in September to seek a return as prime minister. "There will be no more politics in schools and at faculties," Vucic vowed, repeating accusations that the students and their professors work under instructions from abroad to "breakdown" the country.

Both sides are said to be polling close, making the outcome uncertain and fueling fears of incidents if both declare victory. Authorities on Wednesday detained six people allegedly suspected of planning unrest on election day. Police have made similar arrests ahead of major protests in the past, which government critics say aim to intimidate protesters.

A report published Wednesday by the Serbian Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability cited a "narrowing of freedoms and deepening of inequality" among election participants and voters. It said opposition activists are being monitored and questioned and their communications intercepted, and noted a major discrepancy in mainstream media coverage in favor of Vucic and over 100 violent incidents during the campaign. International election monitors and the European Union have expressed concern about the ballot's safety and fairness following widespread irregularities in the past.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The election could reshuffle power in a key Balkan nation, with a youth-led reform movement challenging an entrenched populist leader
A disputed outcome risks political instability in a region already under strain from EU accession delays and external influence
The close polling raises the possibility of post-election unrest, with both sides potentially claiming victory

Background

Serbia has been ruled by Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party for more than a decade, during which critics have accused the government of backsliding on democratic norms, media freedom and rule of law. The current electoral contest emerged after a train station roof collapse in the northern city of Novi Sad in late 2024 killed 16 people, sparking widespread protests. Students took the lead in demonstrations demanding accountability, blaming the disaster on corruption and negligence linked to renovation work. Vucic resigned the presidency in September 2026 to run as prime minister, a move that triggered the early parliamentary election.

Key Perspectives

Students' List and supporters: They see the election as a chance to end Vucic's tight grip on power and demand justice for the train station victims. Their marches into rural areas aim to build support beyond urban centres. Vucic and his SNS party: The incumbent frames the contest as a defence of national sovereignty, accusing the student movement of being directed by foreign powers. He promises to remove politics from universities if re-elected. International observers and civil society: They warn of a diminished electoral environment, citing uneven media coverage, surveillance of opposition activists and a rise in violent incidents during the campaign.

What to Watch

The scale of Thursday's student rally in Belgrade's Slavija square, which has been the site of their largest gatherings
Whether Sunday's election results produce a clear winner or trigger competing claims that lead to street confrontations
Any further arrests or police actions that could be seen as intimidation in the final days before the vote

Sources

Students march into Belgrade while populist Vucic holds rally in Serbia's south ahead of vote · The Independent UK

Checked

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

Show each claim

SupportedThousands greeted student marchers in Belgrade ahead of a tense election.The Independent UK: “Thousands of people lined the streets of Belgrade on Wednesday to greet marching students arriving to Serbia's capital on the eve of their final rally ahead of a tense parliamentary election”
Partly supportedThousands of residents lined the streets to welcome the marchers.The Independent UK: “Thousands of people lined the streets of Belgrade on Wednesday to greet marching students”
SupportedStudents arrived from across Serbia ahead of their final rally on Thursday and Sunday's election.The Independent UK: “The student rally on Thursday in Belgrade is expected to draw thousands of people. ... Days-long student marches were aimed at reaching Serbia’s rural areas”
SupportedIlija Srdanovic said, “this is incredible, this energy is unstoppable.”The Independent UK: “Ilija Srdanovic, a physician who is a candidate on the Students' List election ticket, told N1 television that “this is incredible, this energy is unstoppable.””
Partly supportedVucic held a rival rally in southern Serbia.The Independent UK: “Vucic on Wednesday held a rally in the southern city of Nis in front of thousands of his flag-waving supporters.”
SupportedPolls showed a close contest between the SNS and the Students' List.The Independent UK: “both Vucic's SNS and the Students' List group are said to be polling close”
Not in the sourcesThe Students' List movement was born during almost two years of protests and emerged from months of demonstrations.The Independent UK: “the populist strongman and a youth movement that led almost two years of protests against his tight rule”
Partly supportedA train station tragedy that killed 16 people triggered the demonstrations.The Independent UK: “Student demonstrations first erupted after a train station tragedy in Serbia's north killed 16 people.”
Partly supportedThe movement rattled Vucic more than any other challenge during his 12 years as prime minister and president.The Independent UK: “protests that rattled Vucic more than ever during his tenures as both prime minister and president in the past 12 years.”
SupportedVucic vowed, “There will be no more politics in schools and at faculties.”The Independent UK: “"There will be no more politics in schools and at faculties," Vucic vowed at the rally.”
SupportedAuthorities detained six people allegedly suspected of planning unrest on election day.The Independent UK: “Authorities earlier on Wednesday detained six people allegedly suspected of planning unrest on election day.”
SupportedThe election-monitoring report noted over 100 violent incidents during the campaign.The Independent UK: “The report cited a major discrepancy in the mainstream media coverage in favor of Vucic and noted over 100 violent incidents during the campaign.”

Correction

21 October 2026An earlier version of this story said Thursday was the eve of Serbia's parliamentary election. The election is on Sunday.