“Student List – Students Win” emerges as main opposition ahead of Serbia’s snap elections

Snap parliamentary elections in Serbia are scheduled for tomorrow; an electoral silence began at midnight and will last until Sunday at 20:00. Voting will take place at 8,392 polling stations, and 18 electoral lists are competing for the 250 seats in the national assembly.

Student movement emerges as the main opposition force

The grouping branded as "Student List – Students Win" held its final campaign rally last night at Slavija Square in Belgrade, presenting itself as the main opposition force in the run-up to the snap vote.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the youth movement that has been protesting gathered in the city centre, posing a challenge to the country's powerful populist leader, Aleksandar Vučić. Crowds poured into Slavija from several directions, filling multiple city blocks. Demonstrators waved flags and chanted "Victory," expressing optimism ahead of the elections.

"For almost two years we've been fighting for victory in this country, where young people will finally be the ones choosing the future," a student said.

"The number of people is truly incredible; you can see that people really believe something can change. They are not forced to be here, they are not paid — they really believe in something. That's why we are certain of an absolute victory. This only shows how much positive energy and how much hope we all have," said student Stojanović.

"This has really gone on too long; people demanded change. I hope that on Monday we will finally get the change we truly need as a society. I am sure that the students will win," said Belgrade resident Janković.

The Serbian Progressive Party of Aleksandar Vučić also held a campaign rally yesterday. Vučić thanked his supporters and insisted they were not "protecting anyone's armchair, nor anyone's government."

"Thank you for this unprecedented energy. Such energy cannot be seen among people who have been in power one or two years, let alone 14. But I know that you know — that you are not protecting anyone's armchair, nor anyone's government, but you are protecting the state. You know how to protect Serbia. That's why there is so much energy in you. So much strength," Vučić said.

Critics accuse Vučić of widespread corruption, links to organized crime and suppressing democratic freedoms, especially in relation to the media — allegations he denies. Suspicions of high-level corruption linked to state railway projects helped spark student-led protests after the collapse of a station canopy in northern Serbia in November 2024, which killed 16 people.

Photo: press material from the event