150,000 rally in Belgrade before vote

A reported 150,000 people gathered in Slavija Square in Belgrade on Thursday to hear speeches from student candidates, the largest closing rally for the opposition movement. The crowd assembled as Serbia prepares for parliamentary elections on Sunday, a vote that pits the incumbent leader against a new political force built from university faculties.

The Student List emerged from two years of anti-corruption protests that began after a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. Student assemblies at university faculties selected 250 candidates for the slate, all of whom lack prior political experience. The group includes academics, athletes, economists, and engineers. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at Novi Sad University, tops the list. He stated, "It is absolutely normal to stand with my students to help them in their fair struggle," while arriving for an interview on a motorbike in a fluorescent yellow jacket.

Aleksandar Vučić has held various executive roles since 2012, serving as deputy prime minister, prime minister, and president. When he called a snap election last month, he stepped down as president to run for the premiership. Vučić cites economic growth and infrastructure improvements over the last decade as evidence of his leadership. He has described the student movement as foreign-backed and intent on "bringing down our state."

Critics point to the Novi Sad disaster as a key factor in the current political climate. The renovation of the station was part of the flagship Belgrade to Budapest high-speed rail project. Magda Anastasijevic, an Eastern Europe analyst at ACLED, noted that Vučić had survived previous crises by identifying scapegoats, but added, "This was not the case for the canopy."

The ruling Serbian Progressive Party controls a large presence in Belgrade, including a pro-government camp that has occupied a small park in the city center for 18 months. The International Election Observation Mission previously noted an "overwhelming ruling party advantage" in the 2023 vote due to media bias. Foreign policy issues, including Serbia's relations with Russia, China, and the European Union, have also entered the debate.

On Thursday, Vučić addressed supporters as the sole speaker at the Belgrade Arena. The contrasting rallies underscore the choice facing voters on Sunday: a single, long-serving leader or a collective slate of experts. Polls remain scarce, and analysts expect a tight result.