Vucic launches campaign for Serbian prime minister ahead of October 25 vote

October 4, 2026 at 05:26 AM2 min

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Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic launched his campaign for prime minister at a rally in Belgrade on Saturday. Thousands of supporters packed the Belgrade Arena as Vucic pledged a comprehensive victory in the October 25 parliamentary election. The snap vote was called before Vucic resigned as president on September 27, cutting short his second term by more than seven months.

Key Facts

Vucic resigned as president on September 27, cutting short his second term by more than seven months.
The snap parliamentary election is scheduled for October 25.
The Student List, an electoral arm of the student-led protest movement, will attempt to oust Vucic's government.
The November 1, 2024, train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people.

Campaign Rally

Thousands of supporters packed the Belgrade Arena on Saturday for Vucic's campaign launch. Dozens of buses from across Serbia clogged streets around the arena as supporters arrived carrying Serbian flags and banners bearing Vucic's picture. The event was televised by dozens of channels across Serbia and capped a week of Vucic touring towns and villages. Vucic told supporters that absent an intervention of some foreign intelligence service, his party would defeat the opposition.

Electoral Contest

Polls suggest the vote could be tight between Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party and candidates fielded by the student-led protest movement. Vucic has dominated Serbian politics as president or prime minister since 2014 and is barred from seeking a third presidential term. If the SNS wins a majority of seats, parliament is expected to elect Vucic as prime minister. The Student List includes university professors, teachers, experts and others from across the political spectrum.

Protest Movement

The youth-backed movement has demanded accountability for the November 1, 2024, train station canopy collapse that killed 16 people in Novi Sad. The movement's quest for justice over the tragedy and against corruption has grown into a nationwide political force. Vucic accused those behind the movement of seeking to bring Serbia to a halt and claimed without evidence that it is backed by unspecified foreign agents.