Serbia faces one of the most important parliamentary races of recent years on Sunday, October 25th.

The student movement, which has led massive protests against power, is challenging the Serbian Progressive Party ( Aleksandar Vucinqi’s SNS, which has ruled the country since 2012.

The BBC reports that early parliamentary elections are seen as an important test for Serbia’s political future, while civic discontent and concerns about the integrity of the election process have marked the campaign.

The main challenge to the ruling party stems from the student-backed electoral list known as Student Lists — the Students Win, which has managed to mobilise citizens dissatisfied with current governance.

According to the BBC, one of the main figures on this list is cardiologist and university professor Ilija Srdanovic, who has been selected as the first candidate of the movement.

It’s perfectly normal to stand by my students and help them in their fair fight, Srdanovic declared for the BBC.

Unlike traditional parties, the student movement does not have a single leader.

Its list includes academics, doctors, athletes, economists, engineers and representatives of different professions, without previous political experience.

The movement was held after protests erupted in November 2024, when the collapse of a concrete shelter at the Novi Sad railway station caused 16 people to die.

The tragedy prompted calls for institutional responsibility and investigation of corruption allegations.

Protests gradually turned into a broader move against power.

Helena Ivanov, from the research institute Henry Jackson Society, has estimated for the BBC that students have managed to mobilise citizens in a way that the traditional opposition had not achieved before.

She has stressed that Vuciqi has long experience in election competitions, but this time faces a considerable challenge.

Supporters of the student list accuse Vuciqi and the SNS of dominant state institutions and the media.

According to reports quoted by the BBC, about 150 thousand supporters participated in Thursday’s closing meeting of the student list in Belgrade’s Slavija Square.

A Novi Sad University student, identified only as Alexandra, has declared that candidates have been selected because of their professional skills.

We have gathered people who are the best in their fields and we believe they are competent enough to govern the country, she said.

According to the BBC, 18 electoral lists will compete in Sunday’s elections, of which seven have submitted candidates for all 250 parliamentary seats.

Serbia has about 6.45 million registered voters. The polls will open at 7: 00 p.m. and close at 8:00.

The common electoral threshold for entry into parliament is 3 per cent, while specific rules apply to national minority lists.

The election campaign has also been accompanied by concerns about the integrity of the process, including claims of voter pressure and political influence on the media.

The BBC notes that reliable polls are slim, while analysts expect an extremely close race between the ruling party and the student movement.

Although Srdanovic tops the list with 250 candidates, he is not the leader of the movement and would not necessarily be the candidate for prime minister in case of victory.

The 25 October elections are expected to show whether the student movement can turn support from protests into votes and challenge the political dominance of the SNS. /Telegraphy/