Politics · Other · 3 hrs ago
Students rally in Belgrade ahead of tense Serbian parliamentary election
Thousands welcomed students marching into Belgrade from across Serbia ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election.
The students are part of a movement that has led protests against Aleksandar Vučić’s rule for almost two years.
The election pits Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party against the Students’ List, and the two are said to be polling close.
The protests began after 16 people died in a train station tragedy in northern Serbia, with young people demanding accountability for alleged negligence linked to corruption.
The students’ final rally is scheduled for Thursday at central Slavija Square, while Vučić held a campaign rally in the southern city of Niš and said his party would win.
The close contest and claims of campaign violence have raised concerns about possible incidents after the vote.
Election monitors and the European Union have raised concerns about safety and fairness, including over media coverage and alleged restrictions on opposition activists.
Thousands of people welcomed students marching into Belgrade ahead of a tense Serbian parliamentary election scheduled for Sunday.
The students’ final rally was scheduled for Thursday at central Slavija Square.
The vote is seen as a contest between Aleksandar Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party and the Students’ List, with polling described as close.
Vučić held a rally in the southern city of Niš on Wednesday and said he was confident his party would win.
The student demonstrations began after a train station tragedy in northern Serbia killed 16 people, with young people demanding accountability.
- Who
- Students and supporters gathered in Belgrade; Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party are also campaigning.
- What
- Students arrived in the capital ahead of their final rally before a parliamentary election.
- When
- Students arrived on Wednesday, October 21, 2026; the rally was scheduled for Thursday and the election for Sunday.
- Where
- Belgrade, Serbia; Vučić held a separate rally in Niš.
- Why
- The student movement is seeking to make its presence felt before the vote. The demonstrations began after a train station tragedy that killed 16 people.
Students’ List and student movement
Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian Progressive Party
Election
Students’ List and student movement
The student movement is challenging Vučić’s rule, and its final rally was planned before the vote.
Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian Progressive Party
Vučić said he was confident his Serbian Progressive Party would win.
Political role of students
Students’ List and student movement
Students have led protests and are contesting the election through the Students’ List.
Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian Progressive Party
Vučić accused students and their professors of working under instructions from abroad to “breakdown” the country.
A youth movement led protests against Vučić’s rule.
Student demonstrations began following the deaths of 16 people, with protesters demanding accountability.
Students arrived in Belgrade after marching from different parts of Serbia, while Vučić held a rally in Niš.
The students’ final rally was scheduled to take place at Slavija Square.
Serbia’s parliamentary election was scheduled to take place.
- Welcome in Belgrade
- Thousands of people lined the streets to greet the arriving students.
- Election
- Scheduled for Sunday; the year is 2026.
- Student rally
- Planned for Thursday at central Slavija Square.
- Vučić’s rally
- Held Wednesday in Niš.
- Train station tragedy
- 16 people were killed.
4 sources
What people are saying
this is incredible, this energy is unstoppable.
Serbia will be a different country on Monday.
There will be no more politics in schools and at faculties.