Serbian citizens voted in snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, October 25, 2026, following nearly two years of anti-government demonstrations. The election features a challenge to the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has held power since 2012, from a youth-backed movement known as the "Student List – Students Win." Preliminary results were expected approximately two hours after polls closed at 8 p.m. local time.
The election followed mass protests triggered by the 2024 collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, which resulted in 16 deaths. Demonstrators attributed the disaster to corruption and poor construction standards, while the government rejected these allegations. Aleksandar Vucic, who has served as prime minister and president during the SNS's rule, resigned from his second presidential term in September to run for the office of prime minister.
Pollsters reported significantly higher voter participation compared to the 2023 election. By 11 a.m., monitoring bodies CeSID and Ipsos recorded 27.3% turnout, nearly double the 15.1% recorded at the same time in the previous cycle. The central election committee reported turnout reached 35% by 11:00 GMT. Long lines were reported at polling stations, and monitoring groups CeSID and CRTA noted some incidents regarding the electoral roll and voting secrecy, though the Election Commission stated voting had passed without incident.
The Student List fielded 250 candidates, including university professors, farmers, and actors, led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic. Several established opposition parties chose not to run, instead urging supporters to back the student movement. Vucic and the SNS campaigned on pledges of higher pensions and public sector salaries while maintaining ties with both the European Union and Russia. Vucic characterized the election as a choice for the nation's direction, while Student List candidate Dejan Bodiroga stated the vote was for "the return of a country that has been hijacked."
A final campaign rally for the Student List in Belgrade on Thursday, October 22, 2026, drew an estimated 150,000 people. Internationally, the results will influence Serbia’s diplomatic posture toward the European Union and Russia. A shift in government could influence the nation's EU accession process, which has slowed due to concerns over the rule of law. The SNS has dominated Serbian politics for 14 years, and this is described as the biggest challenge to Vucic's rule in over a decade.
What happens next depends on the final vote tally and subsequent government formation. While Vucic stated he would respect the results, he also noted that if his party wins, they would not allow the victory to be taken from them. The election of a prime minister will follow the seating of the new parliament. Observers from domestic and international organizations, supported by student volunteers, are monitoring the counting process. Precise deadlines for the final certification of results were not reported, but first indications were expected Sunday evening.