Novi Sad Collapse Spawns Student List to Oust Serbia's Ruling SNS

Serbian voters cast ballots on Sunday in a parliamentary election that marks a turning point for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The contest is the first genuinely competitive race since 2012, with polls indicating the Student List could capture more than 40% of the vote.

On Thursday evening, thousands gathered in Belgrade for the Student List's closing rally. Many attendees had walked for days from across the country to reach the capital. Arsa Stojanovic, a biology student, addressed the crowd, noting that the group had crossed the nation from end to end. He said the walkers visited villages and neighborhoods and found local support. Aleksandar Cupic, a transport engineering professor and candidate, described the atmosphere as smelling like freedom. The event ended with a kolo, a traditional circle dance.

The student movement formed after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 16 people. Leaders frame the election as a fight against corruption and a demand for accountability. They aim to bypass traditional ideological and foreign policy divisions that have long defined Serbian politics.

Dusan Spasojevic, a political scientist, called the race unlike any in the past 14 years. He stated that the movement has generated hope and substantial support. The SNS held its own closing rally a few kilometers away. The party argued that voting for them ensures stability, continuity, and prosperity. It warned that a change in government risks chaos and accuses opponents of serving foreign interests.

Former President Aleksandar Vucic told supporters that opponents tried to destroy the country on foreign orders. He claimed they attacked the party with billions of euros. The campaign has been marked by tension and conflict.

By the final week, the independent monitoring group CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats. These included confrontations, attacks on campaigners, and attempts to seize banners. CRTA reported that opposition activists, especially those linked to the Student List, faced surveillance and police questioning. The group noted that police were sometimes slow to protect opposition candidates.

CRTA stated the campaign was neither free nor fair. Its report found that almost three-quarters of national television airtime went to government representatives. More than 80% of coverage regarding the Student List was negative. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published testimony from a former SNS member describing pressure on public-sector employees to deliver votes. Anonymous sources told DW that voters were offered between 30 and 150 euros, and sometimes holiday packages, to support the SNS.

Independent media have reported alleged links between party-connected individuals and criminal networks. Spasojevic doubts these revelations will change the election result. Authorities have warned for weeks that students, aided by foreign intelligence, are preparing for street violence. Several people have been arrested on suspicion of plotting disturbances on election night.

Spasojevic said a decisive win for either side would be the best outcome. He added that polls point to a narrow margin, which could lead to a post-election crisis. A narrow SNS victory would almost certainly be contested, and the student movement has vowed to defend every vote. The international response, particularly from the European Union, may help prevent escalation.

An EU Commission spokesperson told DW that key recommendations on improving Serbia's electoral framework remain unimplemented. The spokesperson stressed that democracy and the rule of law are central to the accession process. Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012.