The Slavija rally and the student movement
Polling stations in Serbia report a 19.8% turnout by 10am, according to the research organisation CRTA. This figure is twice the level recorded at the December 2023 parliamentary election. Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Slavija roundabout in Belgrade on October 22 for the final student rally. The Public Assemblies Archive estimated the crowd at 150,000 people. The movement follows the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad’s recently renovated railway station in November 2024, which killed 16 people and led to two years of regular protests against the political establishment. At the rally, a cardboard cut-out of tennis player Novak Djokovic carried a sign that read, "When Djokovic returns to Serbia!" This joked about a nationalist slogan spray-painted on buildings that asked, "When the army returns to Kosovo." The movement has turned the election into a referendum on the country’s future and frames the choice as one between functioning institutions and a system built around political loyalty. The Student List, which campaigns as Students Win, is an unusual political coalition. Its candidates include doctors, academics, engineers, artists, farmers and sportsmen. The list includes former basketball star Dejan Bodiroga and actor Tihomir Stanic. At the top of the list is Ilija Srdanovic, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad. These candidates were selected through plenums and collective decision-making.
Patronage and media control
The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) holds a significant advantage in media access and public spending. CRTA analysis of television broadcasts between September 9 and September 30 shows that government representatives received 69% of prime-time airtime. Coverage of the Student List was 88% negative in tone. The SNS also distributed pre-election payments in August as part of a package worth nearly €1bn, which included promised salary and pension increases, subsidised medicine and tourism vouchers.
| Recipient | Amount (RSD) |
|---|---|
| Adults | 6,000 |
| Pensioners | 20,000 to 35,000 |
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) collected 150 testimonies of public-sector employees facing pressure to support the SNS. Those who refuse support risk demotion, undesirable transfers or dismissal. A former SNS operative alleged he received hundreds of thousands of euros to collect votes and lead ten men to provoke demonstrators at a pro-government camp called Cacilend. Citizens also reported receiving voting invitations for people who no longer live at their addresses. One resident reported receiving a notice for a deceased father after local officials refused to register his death despite being shown a death certificate. The SNS points to economic growth and stability.
Polling and political visions
The election results remain uncertain because of conflicting polling data. A September survey by Faktor Plus placed the United Serbia list at 48.6% and the Student List at 37.1%. However, the New Serbian Political Thought institute placed the Student List at 44.4% against 42.7% for United Serbia. Jugoslav Gasic, a doctor and parliamentary candidate, said the election is a choice between "two principles and two visions: Serbia or the mafia." The SNS is led by Aleksandar Vucic, who is seeking a return to the premiership after resigning as president last month. He has cultivated friendships with leaders like Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The Student List lacks a detailed policy programme and has avoided questions about Serbia’s relations with Russia or the European Union. Their central promise is to restore independent institutions and end political patronage. They want jobs to depend on merit rather than party membership and healthcare to be accessible without bribes. Their supporters traveled across Serbia by bike and on foot to meet voters in small towns and rural communities. This message attracted older voters who share frustration with corruption. The atmosphere at student gatherings differs from SNS rallies, where crowds often arrive in long columns from across the country. Government rallies are often criticised for relying on public-sector employees or supporters who arrive via buses with promises of free food.
