According to ILNA, citing Reuters, Serbs go to the polls today, Sunday, as a broad student protest movement seeks to unseat Aleksandar Vucic, the country's long-serving populist leader who has held power for more than a decade, first as prime minister and then as president.
This snap parliamentary election, announced in September at Vucic's request, is being held after nearly two years of student-led demonstrations.
These protests, which took shape against existing corruption and growing authoritarianism, intensified after the 2024 incident in the city of Novi Sad, in which the collapse of a train station canopy led to the deaths of 16 people; since that time, students have enjoyed broad support.
Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, and the first indications of the results are expected about two hours after voting ends.
A student victory could mean a profound change in the political atmosphere of this Balkan country of some 6 million people, a development reminiscent of Viktor Orban's defeat in Hungary in April.
This event could also serve as a model for other student movements across Europe, movements that have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest poor education standards and the lack of a clear outlook for the future.
Nevertheless, Vucic, who resigned from the presidency to run again for prime minister, remains a powerful figure in the political structure.
Many credit Vucic with taking Serbia out of economic isolation and laying the ground for a period of steady modernization.
Source: ILNA News Agency
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