In brief
Across Serbia, thousands of students march toward Belgrade on the final campaign day before a snap election that could erase 12 years of Aleksandar Vučić’s rule. The movement, called “Student List – Students Win,” has no formal leader but has drawn support from teachers, doctors, actors and farmers. Their platform demands an anti‑corruption police unit, media reforms and the removal of party loyalists from public enterprises. While European observers warn of an uneven playing field, the sheer energy and organization of the student coalition present an unprecedented challenge to the entrenched SNS party. The outcome could shape Serbia’s future trajectory toward the European Union or set it back.
Students celebrate as they arrive in Belgrade after walking from across Serbia to support the “Student List – Students Win” rally.
Rallies have been taking place across Serbia on Thursday, the final day of campaigning ahead of a snap election billed as a referendum on the country’s future.
The movement, called “Student List – Students Win,” began two years ago in universities and has since grown into a national coalition that includes teachers, doctors, actors and farmers. While it has no visible leaders, its candidates range from cardiology professors to former basketball stars, all united under an 11‑point program calling for an anti‑corruption police unit, media reform and the removal of party loyalists from public enterprises.
The canopy over the front of the station in Novi Sad collapsed on 1 November 2024, killing 16 people and becoming a symbol of state corruption.
Vučić has been Serbia’s dominant political figure for 12 years, first as president and now seeking a return to the prime minister’s post. His SNS party has faced criticism for alleged corruption, media control and uneven electoral practices. The student movement challenges these claims by demanding transparency and a fair electoral process.
European observers and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe warn that the campaign is tense and that the media environment is heavily skewed toward government voices. Independent watchdogs report threats to journalists and an uneven playing field for candidates. Despite these concerns, the student coalition’s broad-based support and grassroots organization signal a powerful opposition force.
If the student list secures victory, it could usher in significant reforms and reposition Serbia on the path toward European integration. The coming Sunday’s vote will determine whether the entrenched rulership of Vučić ends or persists, reshaping the nation’s political future.
