A grassroots student movement in Serbia is mounting its most significant political challenge yet to President Aleksandar Vučić’s governance. Emerging from protests sparked by a November 2024 railway station collapse that killed 16 people, the Student List has grown into a nationwide movement organizing campaigns across suburban neighborhoods and major cities. The group plans to field 250 candidates in parliamentary elections Sunday, representing a direct challenge to Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party, which has dominated the country’s political landscape for the past 12 years.
Vučić recently announced his resignation from the presidency, stepping down five months before the end of his constitutionally limited second term. He intends to extend his political control by leading his party as prime minister. The timing of his resignation and the subsequent parliamentary election call reflect growing concern within his political apparatus about the student movement’s expanding influence and popular support. The president has dramatically increased his public campaign presence, making 129 live television appearances in August alone—more than quadruple his activity from the previous month.
Public grievances appear to center on systemic corruption, infrastructure deterioration, and questions about wealth distribution despite economic growth. Serbia ranks among Europe’s most corrupt nations according to Transparency International, and residents frequently voice concerns about alleged links between the ruling party and organized crime. Local issues such as failing sewage systems and deteriorating public infrastructure have fueled frustration with incumbent governance. The student campaign has adopted the slogan “Serbia or Mafia,” directly confronting perceptions of institutional corruption.
Poll results present conflicting pictures of the race. A July survey showed substantially more support for the students than the ruling party, though more recent domestic polling—viewed skeptically by opposition observers as potentially biased—indicates a tighter race or SNS advantage. Multiple analysts suggest that neither side may accept defeat as legitimate, creating potential for post-election tensions. The student movement has drawn inspiration from Hungary’s recent election results, where Viktor Orbán, an ally of Vučić, faced electoral defeat in April.
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