Serbians Head To Polls To Determine The Political Future Of Longstanding Leader Aleksandar Vučić

Serbians are heading to the polls on Sunday to determine whether or not to elect Aleksandar Vučić, the president of Serbia until his resignation on September 27, as prime minister. Vučić stepped down from the presidential position to be able to run for prime minister.

Vučić has long been the dominant figure of Serbian politics, having served as president between 2017 and 2026 and prime minister between 2014 and 2017. However, his victory on Sunday is by no means guaranteed, as he faces a strong electoral challenge from candidates belonging to a youth opposition movement which was formed in 2024 in opposition to the rule of Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

The SNS and Vučić were largely blamed for the collapse of a canopy at a train station, which killed 16 people, in Novi Sad in November 2024.

The resulting protests, which were driven by a perception of government corruption and neglect symbolized by the Novi Sad tragedy, led to the creation of a student-led opposition movement which engaged in an enormous campaign of civil disobedience and mass demonstration that has lasted until 2026.

The movement is fielding candidates in Sunday's election under the "Students Win" electoral list; 18 electoral lists - the multi-candidate ballots submitted by competing political parties or coalitions - are taking part in the elections for the 250-seat national assembly. SNS candidates, and Vučić himself, are running under the "Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia" list.

The student list is comprised of candidates from various walks of life, including academics, activists, artists, athletes, farmers, scientists and doctors. The list does not represent a conventional political party, and former members of the ruling coalition's parties as well as former officials of the opposition parties are banned from running for Students Win.

One Ipsos poll released on Thursday showed Vučić's list enjoying a relatively comfortable lead over the student movement, with the SNS bloc on 47.4 percent compared to Student Win's 40 percent.

However, in general, reliable polling for the Serbian elections is difficult to come by. The independent Serbian think tank The Bureau For Social Research published a study in September of 32 Serbian opinion polls conducted between January 2024 and September 2026 which revealed that most polling agencies lacked transparent verification methods and reproduced favorable political narratives of ruling parties such as the SNS.

In addition to opposing Vučić's grip on power, the student movement is largely campaigning on a platform of ridding the country of corruption and holding those responsible for it accountable as well as depoliticizing the media and improving social services such as healthcare and education.

The SNS, on the other hand, is advocating for a return to national and political stability and is campaigning on a message of promoting economic growth, with Vučić and the SNS pledging to help the country hit four percent growth in 2027. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the Serbian economy will grow by 3.3 percent in 2026.

Over six million Serbians are eligible to vote, and early reports indicate a high turnout.