Serbia Holds Its Most Tense Elections in Years Today

Serbia is set to hold its most tense parliamentary elections in years on Sunday, as former President Aleksandar Vučić faces off against a student movement that has been protesting against him for nearly two years. European Pravda reports the elections, UATV English relays. Voting takes place from 7:00 to 20:00 at over 8,000 polling stations, with nearly 6.5 million eligible voters, including slightly over 100,000 registered abroad.

The election pits Vučić's right-wing Serbian Progressive Party, which nominated him as its candidate for prime minister, against the "Student List," backed by young people. Ahead of the vote, the two main contenders were closely matched, making this the most unpredictable election in recent years. An Ipsos poll published on Thursday showed Vučić's party leading with 47% of the vote, while the student movement trailed with 40%.

However, other polls had the "Student List" in the lead. High turnout is expected, and most smaller parties may not clear the 3% threshold to enter parliament. The snap elections were announced by Vučić on September 9, following his resignation from office. The protests against Vučić's authoritarianism and corruption began in late September after the deaths of 16 people in a railway station collapse in Novi Sad.

Since then, the students have gained widespread public support. Serbia's last parliamentary election was held on December 17, 2023.