150,000 Rally in Belgrade as Serbia Faces Closest Vote in Decades

Serbia heads to the polls on Sunday for a parliamentary election that analysts expect will be decided by a narrow margin. The contest pits long-serving leader Aleksandar Vučić against the Student List, a movement born from nearly two years of anti-corruption protests. With reliable polling data scarce, the outcome remains uncertain, but the tension in Belgrade is palpable.

The Student List emerged after 16 people died when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad. Student assemblies at university faculties selected 250 candidates for the ballot. The list is headed by Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University. He described his role as supporting his students in their "fair struggle." The candidate slate includes academics, athletes, and engineers, none of whom have prior political experience.

Vučić has held various top government roles since 2012. He recently stepped down as president to run for prime minister in this snap election. His supporters view him as a strong hand protecting national interests, citing a decade of economic growth and infrastructure development. However, critics argue his Serbian Progressive Party dominates state institutions and media coverage. An international observation mission noted an "overwhelming ruling party advantage" in the 2023 vote, pointing to media bias and the misuse of public resources.

The Novi Sad station renovation was part of Vučić’s flagship high-speed rail project to Budapest, making the disaster difficult to distance from his administration. Magda Anastasijevic, an Eastern Europe analyst at ACLED, noted that Vučić typically survives crises by finding a scapegoat, but that was not possible with the canopy collapse. He has characterized the student movement as foreign-backed and aimed at bringing down the state.

Foreign policy has also become a campaign issue. Serbia maintains EU membership talks while keeping close ties with Russia and China. Vučić has warned that these relationships could be severed under a Student List government, asking if they would impose sanctions on Russia. A pro-government camp has occupied a park in central Belgrade for 18 months, with residents reportedly attacking journalists. Vučić calls the camp a symbol of resistance.

The final rallies highlighted the different styles of the two sides. The ruling party filled Belgrade Arena with Vučić as the sole speaker. In contrast, a reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square to hear from student leaders and candidates. Voters must now choose between a single strong leader and a collective, non-hierarchical approach to governance.