Serbia votes on Vučić’s future
A student movement is seeking to end Aleksandar Vučić’s long grip on power in an early parliamentary election.
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Serbia is electing a new parliament today in a vote that has become a showdown between President Aleksandar Vučić and a student-backed opposition list. The result could affect the country’s domestic direction and its relationship with the European Union.
The number of eligible voters is reportedly around 6.4 million. The election was brought forward after parliament was dissolved. On 9 September, Vučić signed the decree calling voters to the polls on 25 October.
The president and his Serbian Progressive Party, the SNS, are facing a student movement that is reportedly contesting the election under the name Student List. The movement is said to have emerged from almost two years of student demonstrations following the collapse of a station canopy in 2024. The protests were reportedly directed at corruption, inadequate accountability among officials and the state of democracy.
Vučić is formally president, but according to international media and observers he has wielded considerable influence over the government and political agenda for years. According to the Associated Press, he wants to become prime minister again after the election. The parliamentary election can therefore also be seen as a showdown over his leadership.
The campaign took place under unequal conditions, according to the Serbian monitoring organisation CRTA. The organisation reported 116 incidents involving physical violence or verbal threats, an unchecked electoral register and a large lead for pro-government parties in the media. On national broadcasters, the government side reportedly received almost three-quarters of airtime.
Those findings do not mean that the result is invalid. They describe the conditions under which the election is being held. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament are sending observers. The joint preliminary assessment of election day is expected on Monday; a full final report will follow later.
The election could also affect relations between Serbia and the EU. A convincing result for Vučić could confirm the existing balance of power, while a strong result for the Student List could disrupt the political order. The result will not be final until the electoral authorities have processed the votes; CRTA expects to issue its own preliminary projection after the polling stations close.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- On 25 October 2026, Serbia is holding an early parliamentary election.
- The election follows prolonged student demonstrations.
- CRTA and international observers have raised concerns about the campaign conditions.
- At the time of writing, the result is not yet known.
Left
Arguments A strong opposition result could, from a left-wing perspective, create room for greater democratic oversight, independent media and investigations into corruption and official accountability.
Values Equality, public accountability and the protection of civil rights are central.
Consequences A continuation of the current balance of power could prolong protests and social polarisation.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach emphasises that the result must be established reliably and that reforms should proceed through parliamentary procedures and independent observation.
Values Stability, the rule of law and a verifiable electoral process carry significant weight.
Consequences A disputed result could weaken the legitimacy of the new government and Serbia’s rapprochement with the EU.
Right
Arguments This perspective emphasises administrative continuity, national control and the risk that prolonged protests could undermine order and economic stability.
Values Security, sovereignty and predictable government come first.
Consequences An abrupt change of power could, from a right-wing perspective, lead to instability and uncertainty about the country’s foreign policy direction.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts have been confirmed by the Serbian government, AP, OSCE/ODIHR and CRTA. The result and the final assessment of the election were not yet known at the time of publication.
- confirmed Serbia is holding an early parliamentary election on 25 October 2026. — Confirmed by the Serbian government. source
- confirmed Aleksandar Vučić signed the decree on 9 September to dissolve parliament and call an election. — Mentioned in the official government statement. source
- confirmed A student movement is an important counterforce to Vučić and the SNS. — Described by AP. source
- confirmed CRTA reported 116 incidents involving violence or threats and a significant imbalance in media coverage. — Reported on CRTA’s election page. source
- confirmed International observers will publish a preliminary assessment after election day. — OSCE/ODIHR describes the planned joint statement. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Serbia is holding an early parliamentary election on 25 October and that international and domestic observers have raised concerns about the campaign conditions. The result is uncertain; at the time of writing, the polling stations have not yet closed.Sources
- Serbia's election to decide if student movement will topple populist Vucic — Associated Press
- President of Republic calls parliamentary elections for 25 October — Regering van Servië
- Serbia, Early Parliamentary Elections, 25 October 2026 — OSCE/ODIHR
- Elections 2026 — CRTA
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