Serbia’s protesting students mount serious challenge to Vučić’s power
Gen Z students spent two years protesting in the streets. Now they want to lead the government.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić has consistently won elections since 2012, but a student-led movement may challenge his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the upcoming parliamentary elections. A recent poll by independent pollster New Serbian Political Thought shows the Student List leading the Progressive Party by a narrow margin, 44.5% to 42.7%.
Kosta Golubović, a 21-year-old law student, explained that students are fighting for a government that invests in their future, rather than undermining them. The movement began in November 2024 following a devastating railway station collapse that killed 16 people, including two children. Student protests have been demanding early elections ever since.
Despite government attacks branding pollsters as "fake researchers," the Student List's polling reflects months of door-to-door canvassing. Vučić, who has been in power for 12 years, has taken his campaign on the road, using gimmicky ads to appeal to voters. The government's focus on students' lack of experience has led the protesters to highlight the qualifications of their hand-picked candidates.
If the Student List wins, they will face a challenging transition, while a victory for Vučić could result in weakened legitimacy for his SNS party.
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