116 Campaign Incidents Recorded as Serbia Votes in Tightest Election Since 2012

The independent monitoring group CRTA has recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats during the Serbian parliamentary campaign. These events occurred in the lead-up to the vote scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026. The tally includes physical confrontations, attacks on campaigners, and attempts to seize campaign materials.

The political tension in Serbia stems from a specific trigger event in November 2024. A concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station, killing 16 people. Student protests followed, lasting for nearly two years. The movement, now organized as the Student List, frames the election as a chance to address corruption and demand accountability for that disaster.

On Thursday evening, thousands gathered in Belgrade for the Student List's final rally. Many attendees had walked to the capital from across the country for several days. Arsa Stojanovic, a biology student and participant in the march, told the crowd that the group had crossed the country and learned they could count on the people. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, stated that the moment "smells like freedom." The event concluded with a traditional circle dance known as a kolo.

Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic describes this as the first competitive election since Aleksandar Vucic took power in 2012. He notes that polls suggest the Student List could secure more than 40% of the vote. This potential outcome contrasts with the previous fourteen years of rule by the Serbian Progressive Party, or SNS. Spasojevic argues that a decisive win for either side would be the best scenario, though current data points to a narrow margin.

The SNS held its own closing rally a few kilometers away from the student gathering. The party emphasized stability, continuity, and prosperity as key benefits of maintaining its hold on power. Former President Vucic warned that opponents were acting on foreign orders and had attacked the party with billions of euros. The SNS portrays the election as a battle for sovereignty, accusing rivals of serving external interests.

CRTA reported that the campaign was neither free nor fair. The group found that nearly three-quarters of national television airtime was allocated to government representatives. More than 80% of coverage regarding the Student List was negative. The organization also documented surveillance and police questioning of opposition activists. In some instances, police delayed protection for opposition candidates and supporters.

Reports of vote-buying have emerged from independent sources and media. Voters were reportedly offered between 30 and 150 euros, or family holiday packages, to cast ballots for the SNS. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former SNS member describing pressure on public-sector employees to deliver votes. Spasojevic doubts these reports will alter the final result, though they add to the sense of uncertainty.

Authorities have warned for weeks that students are preparing for street violence, allegedly with aid from foreign intelligence services. Several individuals have been arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances for election night. An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations on Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. The EU emphasized that democracy and the rule of law are central to Serbia's accession process, a status it has held since 2012.