Student-Led List Pushes Serbia's Vučić Into Tight Election Race

Serbia votes in parliamentary elections on Sunday, and analysts expect an extremely close result. Reliable polls are scarce, but the contest pits the country's long-serving leader, Aleksandar Vučić, against a student-driven movement unlike anything in Serbia's relatively short democratic history.

The Student List grew out of almost two years of anti-corruption protests led by young Serbians. The demonstrations began after 16 people died when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, the country's second city. Rather than standing themselves, student-led assemblies at university faculties chose 250 candidates. Cardiologist Ilija Srdanović, a professor at Novi Sad University, heads the list. He arrived for a BBC 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," he said.

The movement has no hierarchy or nominated leader. Srdanović tops the list but is not its leader and would not necessarily be the first choice for prime minister if the group won. The other candidates include academics, athletes, economists and engineers, none with a political background. A student at Novi Sad University, who gave only the first name Aleksandra, called that a strength. "We've gathered people who are actually the best in their fields," the student said.

Vučić has served as deputy prime minister, prime minister and president since 2012. When he called the snap election last month, he stood down as president to run for prime minister. He keeps strong support among many Serbians, who see him as a strong leader defending national interests, and he can point to significant economic growth and infrastructure improvements over the past decade. He has described the student movement as foreign-backed and bent on trying to "bring down our state".

The Student List and its backers say Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party dominate state institutions and media coverage. After the 2023 parliamentary vote, the International Election Observation Mission noted an "overwhelming ruling party advantage" caused by "bias in the media" and "misuse of public office and resources". The BBC approached leading party figures for an interview but received no response. For 18 months, a pro-government camp has also occupied a small park in central Belgrade, and its residents have repeatedly attacked journalists. Vučić has called it "a symbol of resistance".

His biggest problem remains the Novi Sad disaster. The station's renovation was part of his flagship Belgrade to Budapest high-speed rail project, making it hard to keep his distance. Magda Anastasijevic, Eastern Europe analyst at the conflict monitor ACLED, said he had survived past crises by finding a scapegoat. "This was not the case for the canopy," she said.

Foreign policy has also entered the campaign. Serbia continues, fitfully, with EU membership talks while keeping close ties with Russia and China, both of which refuse to recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. Vučić has warned those links could be lost under a Student List government, asking at a rally whether the group would impose sanctions on Russia.

The closing rallies underlined the contrast. The ruling party filled Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the only speaker, while a reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear students and candidates. Voters now must choose between a single strong leader and a collective approach.