In Serbia Ahead of Elections, Student Movement Poses Major Threat to Vucic

Ahead of elections to be held on October 25 in Serbia, the student protest movement that began following a train station roof collapse in the city of Novi Sad has become one of the country's most powerful political actors. Seen as the biggest threat to the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics since 2014, the students have formed their own list for the elections.

Aleksa Simic, a political science student at Belgrade University, stated that they blocked the faculty in opposition to injustice and corruption after 16 people lost their lives when the train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024. Two years later, the student protest movement has expanded into one of the country's strongest political forces.

For the elections to be held on Sunday, the students formed the 250-candidate "Students Win" list led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic. According to an opinion poll published on October 20 by the New Serbian Political Thought (NSPM), the student list leads Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) with 44.5 percent of the vote compared to 42.7 percent, while betting odds show Vucic as the favorite.

Vucic had stepped down from the presidency in September to run again for prime minister in the snap elections. While critics accuse Vucic of democratic backsliding and silencing the media, Vucic claimed that the student movement is funded by foreign agents. Students and officials denied these allegations.