Serbia’s longtime leader faces biggest political test as students mount election challenge
Serbia's former president Aleksandar Vucic has set the stage for a snap election on October 25, where he will run as the candidate for prime minister and leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
The story so far
- Oct 21
- Oct 22
- Oct 23
How outlets cover it
4 outletsNot rated on the left–right scale. It describes Western party politics and doesn’t fit state media or outlets outside that system, so we show ownership and country instead.
Open questions and key claims
Kosta Golubovic states that change is necessary because 'the state must belong to its people, not to the mafia and criminals.'
“We are putting an end to 14 years of humiliation, chaos and betrayal, and to decades of putting personal and party interests above yours,”
Students emerged as the movement’s driving force, organising some of Serbia’s biggest demonstrations since the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic.
About 150,000 supporters of Serbia’s opposition student movement rallied in central Belgrade on Thursday.
Vucic has regularly accused the student movement of being a foreign-funded coup attempt.
Serbia's economy is expected to grow to over $120 billion by the end of the year, with GDP increasing from 32 billion euros when Vucic became prime minister.
Corruption is the most frequent complaint among voters in Serbia, with the country ranking poorly on Transparency International's corruption index.
The student opposition is highly unlikely to win the parliamentary elections, according to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric.
Who and where
Related stories over time
same people and places- Jun 27 – Jun 28 earlierSerbians keep up protests after President Vucic says he will step down5 articles · 2 outlets
- Aug 7 – Aug 8 earlierSerbia and Ukraine pledge closer economic ties, eye free trade deal3 articles · 3 outlets
- Sep 27 – Oct 3 earlierSerbian populist leader Vucic launches campaign for prime minister7 articles · 4 outlets
- Oct 21 – Oct 23◆ This story