Serbian voters face choice between long-time leader and new student bloc

Serbian voters head to the polls on Sunday to choose between Aleksandar Vučić, the country's leader since 2012, and a new political force built around university students. Analysts predict a close result, as reliable polling data is scarce and the contest marks a shift from individual leadership to a collective movement.

The Student List emerged from nearly two years of anti-corruption protests. These demonstrations were triggered by a tragedy in Novi Sad, where a collapsing canopy at a railway station killed 16 people. University faculties selected 250 candidates for the ballot. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University, is the top name on the list. He told the BBC that his role is to support his students in their fight for change.

The movement lacks a traditional hierarchy. Srdanović is not the designated leader and may not become prime minister if the group wins. The candidate roster includes academics, engineers, economists, and athletes, none of whom have prior political experience. A student at Novi Sad University named Aleksandra described this lack of professional politicians as a key advantage for the group.

Vučić, who stepped down as president last month to run for prime minister, maintains a strong base of support. He cites a decade of economic growth and infrastructure projects as evidence of his effectiveness. He has characterized the student movement as foreign-backed and intent on destabilizing the state.

Critics argue that Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party hold disproportionate power over state institutions and media. An international observation mission noted an overwhelming advantage for the ruling party in the 2023 elections, citing media bias and the misuse of public resources. A pro-government camp has occupied a park in central Belgrade for 18 months, and its residents have attacked journalists. Vučić has defended the camp as a symbol of resistance.

The Novi Sad disaster complicates Vučić’s position because the station renovation was part of his flagship high-speed rail project linking Belgrade and Budapest. Magda Anastasijevic, an analyst at the conflict monitor ACLED, noted that Vučić usually survives crises by finding a scapegoat, but the canopy collapse offered no such option.

Foreign policy has also become a central issue. Serbia is pursuing EU membership while maintaining close ties with Russia and China. Vučić has warned that a Student List government might damage these relationships and impose sanctions on Russia. In the final days of the campaign, the ruling party held a rally in Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the sole speaker, while an estimated 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear from the student candidates.