Politics

Serbian election on October 25 pits students against Vucic's party

University students who led nearly two years of anti-corruption protests are contesting the early parliamentary vote, which is believed to be close.

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 22:14 UTC4 reports

The short version

Serbia holds an early parliamentary election on October 25, contested by students who have led anti-corruption protests for nearly two years.[Associated Press]
Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party and the youth-backed Students' List are believed to be running close, leaving the outcome uncertain.[Associated Press]
The movement's roots include a November 2024 train station tragedy in northern Serbia that killed 16 people.[Associated Press]
In Republika Srpska, Bosnian Serb police banned two student events backing Serbian students, and about 19,800 Bosnian voters can cast ballots in the Serbian vote.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Serbia's university students have led mass anti-corruption protests for nearly two years.[Associated Press]
An early parliamentary election in Serbia is scheduled for October 25.[Associated Press]
A train station tragedy in the country's north killed 16 people in November 2024.[Associated Press]
Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party and the youth-backed Students' List are believed to be running close in the election.[Associated Press]
Bosnian Serb police banned two student events in Republika Srpska in the past month that were meant to support Serbian students.[Associated Press · ABC News]
About 19,800 voters in Bosnia can cast ballots at 28 polling stations for the Serbian election.[Associated Press · ABC News]

The election outcome is uncertain because the two leading tickets are believed to be running close, according to the reporting.[Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.