Belgrade fills with thousands of protesters as students face Vuçiç in Sunday’s election

Just days before the parliamentary elections on October 25, thousands of students and citizens have gathered in the streets of Belgrade to express their support for the student movement.

The closing rally of the Student List has turned the Serbian capital into the central point of mobilization against Aleksandar Vuçiç’s government. Participants from various cities across the country have traveled to Belgrade, while reported polls point to a close race between the students and the Serbian Progressive Party.

“Victory is calling” is the slogan of the protest, which is taking place in the city’s main square. Through this gathering, the students and their supporters aim to send a strong message ahead of the opening of polling stations and express their expectation of political change after a long period of protests.

Several-day marches from different parts of Serbia preceded the protesters’ arrival in the capital. Columns from Šabac, Valjevo, Gornji Milanovac, Novi Sad and Zaječar set out for Belgrade to join the demonstration. The group from Zaječar walked around 240 kilometers in six days.

Along the route, many citizens came out to greet the marchers and provide them with food and drinks. Receptions were also organized in various neighborhoods of Belgrade, where additional supporters joined the columns. For the participants, arriving in the capital represents the culmination of an effort that now aims to be transformed into votes on Sunday.

The students were welcomed outside the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade with applause, music and fireworks. Chants of “Victory,” “He is finished” and “Vuçiç is gone” could be heard from the crowd, while protesters expressed their belief that the electoral process could pave the way for the change they are seeking.

The student movement was created after the 2024 tragedy involving the collapse of a structure at the Novi Sad railway station. It has become a significant political challenge to the government, while protests against corruption and demands for institutional accountability have brought together students, professors and citizens.

Following the protests, the confrontation is now moving to the ballot boxes. The Student List aims to turn broad participation into electoral support in a race being closely watched for its potential impact on Serbia’s political future. The rally in Belgrade is its last major show of strength before Sunday, when citizens will choose the composition of the new parliament.