Serbia votes in tightest race in 14 years

Serbians cast ballots on Sunday in a parliamentary election that analysts describe as the first competitive contest since 2012. The vote determines the future of the Serbian Progressive Party, which has held power for 14 years.

Thousands gathered in Belgrade on Thursday evening for the final rally of the Student List. Many attendees walked for days from across the country to reach the capital. Arsa Stojanovic, a biology student, told the crowd that the walkers had visited villages and neighborhoods to gauge public support. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, said the atmosphere "smells like freedom." The event concluded with a traditional circle dance.

The Student List emerged from protests following the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad railway station in November 2024. That disaster killed 16 people. The movement frames the election as a fight against corruption and a demand for accountability. It seeks to bridge ideological and foreign-policy divides that have traditionally segmented Serbian politics.

Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic states that polls suggest the student movement could win more than 40% of the vote. He notes this is the first election with an uncertain outcome since Aleksandar Vucic took office in 2012. Spasojevic believes a decisive victory for either side would prevent a post-election crisis, though current projections point to a narrow margin.

The ruling party held a separate closing rally kilometers away. Its message emphasized stability and continuity. Former President Vucic argued that opponents act on foreign orders and have attacked the party with billions of euros. The SNS portrays the election as a battle for sovereignty and warns that change risks chaos.

Violence has marred the campaign. The independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats by the final week. These included attacks on campaigners and attempts to seize banners. CRTA reported that opposition activists faced surveillance and police questioning. The group found that national television gave almost three-quarters of airtime to government representatives. More than 80% of coverage regarding the Student List was negative.

Anonymous sources told Deutsche Welle that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, or holiday packages, to support the SNS. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former party member describing pressure on public-sector employees to deliver votes. Authorities have warned of potential street violence, aided by foreign intelligence, and have arrested several people on suspicion of plotting disturbances.

An EU Commission spokesperson stated that key recommendations for improving Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. The spokesperson emphasized that democracy and the rule of law are central to the accession process. Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012.