Vucic launches campaign for prime minister ahead of Serbia's October 25 snap election

Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has launched a campaign to become prime minister ahead of Serbia's snap parliamentary election on October 25. Thousands of supporters gathered at Belgrade Arena on Saturday for a rally that marked the start of his push to extend his influence after stepping down as president on September 27. The event took place in the capital and was presented by Vucic as the opening of a campaign for what he described as a comprehensive victory.

Sponsored

Supporters filled the largest indoor arena in Belgrade, while dozens of buses from across Serbia brought people into the city for the rally. Serbian flags and banners with Vucic's image were visible around the venue, and the gathering was broadcast by many television channels across the country. Vucic, running on the Serbian Progressive Party ticket, told supporters that his side would defeat its opponents unless there was intervention from a foreign intelligence service.

The election is being closely watched because polls suggest a tight contest between Vucic's party and candidates backed by a student-led protest movement. That movement emerged from nearly two years of sustained anti-government protests and has built an electoral arm called the Student List. Its campaign has focused on accountability for the November 1, 2024 train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people and became a wider symbol of anger over corruption and governance.

Vucic has dominated Serbian politics as president or prime minister since 2014, and the parliamentary vote now offers him a route to remain at the centre of power despite being barred from seeking a third presidential term. If the Serbian Progressive Party wins a majority, parliament is expected to elect him as prime minister. That would mark a significant shift in office while preserving continuity in his political influence.

Sponsored

The campaign also comes after Vucic spent a week touring towns and villages in an effort to rebuild support. His political position has been tested by the protests, which have grown from demands for justice over the Novi Sad disaster into a broader challenge to the government. The student-backed list includes university professors, teachers, experts and other figures from across the political spectrum, giving the opposition effort a wider social base than a conventional party campaign.

What remains unclear is whether Vucic's mobilisation will be enough to secure a parliamentary majority on October 25. The result will determine whether he can return to executive office as prime minister and how much leverage the protest movement can convert into seats. The vote is therefore likely to be a key test of both his political durability and the strength of the challenge to his long-standing dominance.

#Serbia #AleksandarVucic #parliamentaryelection #Belgrade #SerbianProgressiveParty