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Serbia: Understanding the political crisis ahead of the 25 Oct. 2026 elections

The student mobilisation of 22 October is more than a protest against the government. It is the culmination of nearly two years of demonstrations that have evolved into a nationwide electoral challenge.

To understand what is at stake, we need to connect the Novi Sad disaster, anti-corruption demands, the SNS’s political dominance, the conditions of the election campaign and Serbia’s European prospects.

From Novi Sad to the ballot box

On 25 October, Serbian voters will elect their Parliament in a snap election contested by, among others, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), associated with Aleksandar Vučić, and the student list “Student List – Students Are Winning” (“*Studentska lista*”).

The movement emerged following a railway disaster in November 2024. It has gradually developed into a national political force, challenging alleged corruption and the functioning of state institutions. The rally in Belgrade on 22 October, the students’ final major campaign event, illustrates the scale of the mobilisation.

Source : Reuters, AFP

The Novi Sad disaster and its aftermath

1 Nov. 2024 à Novi Sad
Event : A massive concrete canopy on the façade of Novi Sad railway station collapsed shortly after renovation work had been carried out on the building.
Death toll : Fourteen people died at the scene, including children, and two others who were injured later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total death toll to 16.
Suspected cause : The public immediately attributed the disaster to systemic corruption, negligence and the poor quality of the state-led renovation work.
28 Jan. 2025
: Vučević resigns as Prime Minister.
15 Mar. 2025
: A demonstration draws more than 300,000 people. It is one of the largest in the country’s history since the fall of Slobodan Milošević in 2000. The mass mobilisation demanded accountability for corruption and ultimately led to the calling of snap parliamentary elections.

Source : Reuters, Serbian Government

From student mobilisation to a nationwide challenge

Following the disaster, students organised faculty blockades, rallies and marches. The movement gradually spread beyond universities through local actions and meetings with the public. It attracted support from people with a range of political views, including teachers, workers and civil society groups.

The initial demands focused on transparency surrounding the Novi Sad case and accountability for those responsible. They subsequently broadened to include the fight against corruption, institutional independence, accountability among public officials and fair electoral conditions.

Source : OSW, Reuters

The emergence of a political divide

The students stand out for their commitment to maintaining a decentralised structure without a single leader. University assemblies and collective consultations play a central role in their decision-making.

The government, meanwhile, has portrayed the protests as an attempt at destabilisation backed by foreign actors. These accusations have further polarised the debate, but the authorities have not publicly provided evidence to substantiate these claims.

Source : Reuters, The Guardian

“Student List”: Can a protest movement become a governing force?

The movement is fielding 250 independent candidates in the parliamentary election. Selected through university assemblies and nationwide discussions, they come from a range of backgrounds, including teaching, activism, the arts, medicine and sport. It is therefore not a conventional party built around a single leader.

Its eleven-point framework includes anti-corruption measures, stronger institutional accountability and the confiscation of illegally acquired assets. It also contains social proposals, such as free school textbooks and lower medicine prices.

This diversity gives the movement breadth, but raises an important question: how can shared demands be turned into a coherent government programme? The practical details of some reforms and several foreign policy positions remain to be clarified.

Source : OSW, Reuters

Aleksandar Vučić and Serbia’s political system

The SNS has been in power since 2012, and Aleksandar Vučić has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, first as Prime Minister and then as President from 2017.

On 27 September 2026, Vučić resigned as President to lead his list’s parliamentary campaign and seek the post of Prime Minister. Ana Brnabić, the Speaker of Parliament, is serving as acting President. A separate presidential election is due to be held before the end of the year.

His opponents accuse him of concentrating power, putting pressure on the media and weakening checks and balances. The government rejects these accusations and points to stability, infrastructure development and its economic record.

Source : Reuters, OSW

Electoral conditions at the heart of the controversy

In its pre-election report published on 22 October, the independent Serbian organisation CRTA describes a campaign marked by intimidation, violence, pressure on voters and highly unequal access to the media.

During the period covered, its observers recorded 116 incidents of physical or verbal violence across 34 cities and municipalities. The authorities also received more favourable media coverage.

These findings concern the conditions under which the election is being contested. They do not, by themselves, prove that the result will be fraudulent.

Source : CRTA

A significant imbalance in media coverage

The authorities received 72% of the airtime devoted to political actors on national television channels, compared with 28% for the opposition.

Source : CRTA

Electoral integrity

According to CRTA, the electoral register was closed with 6,450,523 voters and had not been audited beforehand. The organisation also reported incorrectly listed polling station addresses and potential obstacles to voting. These issues make it harder to verify the reliability of the electoral process.

The OSCE/ODIHR, the European Union and representatives of the Council of Europe have also expressed concerns about campaign violence, threats, the safety of journalists and observers, allegations of surveillance and the accuracy of electoral rolls.

Source : CRTA, Associated Press, OSCE/ODIHR

Why the crisis also matters to the European Union

Serbia has officially been a candidate for European Union membership since 2009. Its path towards accession nevertheless remains hindered by concerns about judicial independence, the fight against corruption, media pluralism and checks and balances.

In its 2026 Rule of Law Report, published in July, the European Commission highlighted persistent concerns about the autonomy of the prosecution service and political pressure on the judiciary.

The geopolitical dimension further complicates matters: Belgrade maintains close relations with Russia and China while continuing to pursue EU membership.

Source : European Commission, Reuters

The vote: the first step in an uncertain transition

The election will not automatically resolve Serbia’s political crisis. Several factors will be decisive: turnout, the conduct of the vote, any challenges to the result, the response of state institutions and the ability of the different lists to secure a parliamentary majority.

An electoral victory would not, by itself, guarantee that the student list could govern without difficulty. Conversely, a contested result could trigger further protests. These are possible scenarios, not foregone outcomes.

The OSCE/ODIHR is due to present its preliminary findings on 26 October. Another milestone lies ahead: following Vučić’s resignation, a presidential election must be held before the end of 2026.

Source : OSCE/ODIHR, Reuters, AP

Society

Europe: Social discontent spills onto the streets

From the housing crisis and difficulties in the education system to the cost of living, corruption and the war in Gaza, protests across Europe are putting governments under pressure.

France

From student protests to a nationwide social movement

The protests began in schools, where students denounced teacher shortages, deteriorating school conditions and difficulties with educational guidance. On 17 October, the movement broadened to include concerns over the cost of living and public services.

However, the day was also marked by serious damage: looted shops, smashed windows, torched vehicles and a fire at Limoges town hall. The violence shifted the debate towards security and the authorities’ responsibility.

On 19 October, Emmanuel Macron rejected the interior minister’s resignation and called for a review of security arrangements.

Source : Le Monde, Reuters

France

Massive protests, a substantial number of arrests

Violence on the fringes of demonstrations shifted the debate towards security and failings on the part of the authorities.

Source : AP, French Interior Ministry, Le Monde, Reuters

Belgium

Austerity and access to higher education fuel protests

Young protesters are denouncing the cost of education and reforms that could restrict access to higher education. Clashes broke out in Brussels on 17 October: a car was overturned, and police used tear gas and water cannon.

In Liège, an initially peaceful march was followed by barricades, mortar fire and property damage. Authorities have condemned the violence, while education and austerity remain central to the movement’s demands.

Source : Reuters, The Brussels Times/Belga

Belgium

Liège: 45 arrests, including 12 minors

Oct 19
Morning T1.2: Afternoon T1.3: Evening :
Après-midi :
Soir :

Source : Reuters, The Brussels Times/Belga

Portugal

The housing crisis continues to spill onto the streets

Protests over the cost of living and the housing crisis have led to encampments in Lisbon and Porto. On the morning of 19 October, campaigners remained mobilised despite police requests to remove the tents.

In Porto, around 80 people had spent the night at the site in approximately 50 tents. The movement intends to continue its protest, while a police operation at an encampment on 15 October had prompted organisers to report 37 injuries.

The dispute now concerns both access to housing and the right to occupy public spaces peacefully.

Source : RTP, Diário de Notícias

Portugal

House prices are rising faster than the EU average

Note: these figures measure house prices, not rents.

Source : Eurostat

Albania

Protests now directly target Edi Rama

Student protests have evolved into a broader political challenge centred on corruption, unemployment and educational conditions. Protesters are calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down and are also criticising a controversial tourism project on the Albanian coast linked to Jared Kushner’s investment firm.

Protesters attacked buildings and threw projectiles at police, who used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. Rama has refused to resign, arguing that the unrest threatens Albania’s goal of joining the EU by 2030.

Source : Reuters, Euronews

Albania

Heavy toll on police after several days of unrest

Note: these figures cover several days and should not be interpreted as the toll from a single demonstration.

Source : Reuters, Associated Press

Italy

Clashes and blockades over the cost of living

The demonstration against the rising cost of living and wars was followed by looting and fires around Piazza del Duomo in Milan.

A separate movement is affecting the south of the country, where transport operators are protesting against fuel prices. Blockades are disrupting traffic and fuel supplies.

Source : ANSA, Euronews, AP

Italy

Protests over Gaza become a legal issue

Oct 10
More than 50 cities mobilised : Pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place across Italy, with an estimated 5,000 people taking part in Milan.
Oct 16
13 additional officials : In Rome, an investigation into alleged mistreatment of activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla was expanded to include Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and 12 other senior officials, following the earlier naming of Itamar Ben-Gvir.
50 citoyens
The complaint : The proceedings are based on complaints from Italian citizens who took part in flotilla missions to Gaza and allege that they were mistreated while in detention.

Source : Sky TG24, Reuters

FIVE COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT CRISES, ONE SHARED POLITICAL CHALLENGE

Europe’s protests do not constitute a single, coordinated movement.

In France, demands concerning schools have broadened into wider social discontent. In Belgium, access to higher education and austerity are fuelling tensions. In Portugal, housing has become a symbol of the cost-of-living crisis. In Albania, protesters are directly challenging the government. In Italy, concerns over the cost of living coincide with demonstrations over Gaza.

The challenge for governments is to address the causes of discontent while ensuring public safety and protecting the right to protest.

Source : AP, Financial Times