Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, for the final campaign rally organized by the country’s student-led opposition movement ahead of a closely watched parliamentary election.
The rally, held at Slavija Square in central Belgrade, marked a major moment for the student movement, which has spent nearly two years leading protests against the government of President Aleksandar Vučić. Supporters filled the square and surrounding streets, waving flags, lighting flares and chanting slogans expressing hope for political change.
The gathering took place just three days before Serbia’s early parliamentary election, scheduled for Sunday, October 25. The students are contesting the vote through an electoral platform known as “Students’ List – Students Win,” turning a protest movement that began in 2024 into a direct challenge to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.
Student Movement Gains Momentum
The student-led demonstrations began after a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16 people. The tragedy prompted demands for accountability over alleged corruption, construction standards and government oversight.
Over time, the protests expanded beyond the railway station disaster, with demonstrators calling for greater transparency, stronger democratic institutions and action against corruption.
Students organized university blockades, marches and nationwide demonstrations, attracting support from citizens dissatisfied with the government’s record. In the days leading up to Thursday’s rally, groups of students walked from different parts of Serbia toward Belgrade, where residents welcomed them with cheers and public gatherings.
At the final rally, student speakers urged supporters to remain determined ahead of election day. Their message emphasized civic participation, accountability and the possibility of political change through voting.
Vučić Holds Separate Campaign Rally
President Aleksandar Vučić held his own closing campaign event at a sports hall elsewhere in Belgrade on Thursday, drawing several thousand supporters, according to the Associated Press.
Vučić expressed confidence that his Serbian Progressive Party would win the election, although he also acknowledged that the contest could be difficult. His party has governed Serbia for more than a decade and retains significant influence over the country’s political institutions and mainstream media.
The student movement’s growing visibility has created a highly competitive political environment, with the campaign increasingly framed as a contest between the established ruling party and a protest movement seeking institutional change.
Election Fairness and Security Concerns
The approaching election has raised concerns about potential irregularities, political intimidation and post-election unrest.
The European Union and international election observers have expressed concerns about the fairness of the electoral environment, including media coverage and reports of surveillance targeting activists. Government critics have also alleged pressure on opposition supporters, claims that authorities have disputed or rejected.
Analysts have warned that a close result could create uncertainty if competing sides dispute the outcome. The student movement has encouraged supporters to participate in the election and monitor the voting process.
Serbia Awaits a Closely Watched Vote
Thursday’s rally demonstrated the scale of public mobilization behind Serbia’s student-led movement. However, the size of a political gathering does not by itself determine the outcome of an election, which will depend on voter participation, the distribution of votes and the conduct of the electoral process.
As Serbia prepares to vote on October 25, attention is focused on whether the student movement can translate nearly two years of demonstrations into parliamentary representation and what the result could mean for the country’s political future.
Swifteradio.com
