Serbian Students Rally 150,000 in Belgrade Against Vučić Ahead of Pivotal Election

• by Shimanta Das
• October 24, 2026

Tens of thousands of supporters of Serbia’s student-led opposition movement gathered in central Belgrade on Friday for their final rally before a parliamentary election that could end President Aleksandar Vučić’s 14-year rule. Organizers estimated the crowd at 150,000, making it one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in Serbia’s recent history. The rally was held under the banner of “love and peace,” with student leaders urging calm and unity. “Today is the last rally, and it’s important that we all come here to send a message of love and peace and that we see each other on the 25th at the polling stations,” a student representative told the crowd. The election is scheduled for Sunday, December 25.nnThe student movement, which began as a series of peaceful protests against perceived government corruption and media repression, has evolved into a broad opposition coalition aiming to unseat Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Despite reports of threats and intimidation targeting demonstrators in recent months, the rallies have remained largely peaceful. Political scientist Dušan Vučićević from Belgrade University told AFP that while the outcome is difficult to predict, he expects students to win more than 40% of the vote—a result significantly larger than any opposition list since SNS came to power. Such a showing would represent a major shift in Serbian politics and could force a coalition government or even a runoff.nnAcross town, Vučić held a rival rally, underscoring the high stakes of the election. The president, who has dominated Serbian politics for over a decade, has framed the vote as a choice between stability and chaos. However, the student movement has tapped into widespread discontent over issues ranging from economic inequality to democratic backsliding. The rallies have also drawn attention to Serbia’s broader political landscape, including recent controversies such as the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, which exposed the gap between Serbia’s EU ambitions and its political reality. The Mladić funeral, held with military and religious honors, sparked alarm in Brussels and highlighted the challenges facing Serbia’s European integration.nnAs the campaign draws to a close, all eyes are on the 25th. The student movement’s ability to mobilize such a