Serbs vote in election that could end Vucic's decade in power

Voting was under way Sunday in Serbia in a closely contested election that could end more than a decade of rule by Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party.

By 1 p.m., 41.1% of eligible voters had cast ballots, up sharply from 26.6% at the same stage in the December 2023 parliamentary election, according to independent election monitor CRTA.

Polls indicate a tight race between the SNS and the Students' List, a newly formed party that emerged from a mass protest movement sparked by the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in 2024. That disaster killed 16 people and unleashed widespread anger over alleged corruption and poor construction standards. The protests grew into Serbia's largest movement since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Vucic stepped down as president to run for prime minister after calling snap elections last month. His second presidential term was due to expire in May 2027, and Serbia's constitution bars a third term.

Cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic heads the Students' List but is not its designated candidate for prime minister. After voting in Novi Sad, Srdanovic said he hoped the election would pass "in a democratic atmosphere, in peace."

Vucic, voting in Belgrade, said his party would "heed the democratic will of the citizens."

The election is being closely watched across Europe. Serbia is an EU membership candidate, though its accession process has stalled.