Serbia in election silence: About 150,000 at students’ rally on Slavija, Sunday’s result uncertain

Serbia entered the pre-election silence ahead of Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections on Oct. 25 amid high political tension. According to Deutsche Welle, as carried by Portalb.mk, tens of thousands of people gathered on Slavija Square in Belgrade for the Student List’s closing rally. The Public Assembly Archive estimated about 150,000 participants.

After two years of protests, the student movement is going head-to-head with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The SNS’s earlier rally in New Belgrade also passed peacefully.

A race without reliable polls

Polls are rarely published in Serbia and trust in them is limited. DW sources familiar with the research describe the race as uncertain, and political circles are discussing the possibility of complicated negotiations after the vote. Political scientist Ivan Stanojević said the students have roused part of the public from apathy and that turnout will be a key factor.

There are also concerns about the integrity of the vote, with long-standing allegations of pressure on voters, vote-buying and parallel voter records. The Student List has announced mobile teams that will monitor the situation near polling stations.

A campaign about corruption

The students focused their campaign on fighting corruption, functioning institutions and the rule of law, while the EU, Russia, Kosovo and Srebrenica stayed in the background. Adding to the uncertainty were remarks by Aleksandar Vučić, who said on Informer TV: “I want to say the worst things about them that same evening and start the fight against them that same evening!”