Student march draws tens of thousands to Belgrade ahead of Sunday vote

Thousands of people welcomed student marchers in central Belgrade on Wednesday evening as they arrived ahead of a major campaign rally on Thursday, October 22. Columns set off from Zajecar in eastern Serbia, western regions, and Novi Sad in the north, converging on the University of Belgrade Rector's Office with fireworks, brass bands, and chants.

Around 150,000 supporters gathered at the Student List rally in Slavija Square on Thursday evening, according to the independent Archive of Public Gatherings. The crowd waved flags, chanted, and blew whistles while filling the square and surrounding streets.

“We are putting an end to 14 years of humiliation, chaos and betrayal, and to decades of putting personal and party interests above yours.”

The Student List is a leaderless movement of student-backed candidates seeking to end more than 14 years of rule by President Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party in Sunday's snap parliamentary election. Civil society groups have warned that the campaign was marred by intimidation, arrests, attacks, misuse of public resources, and a distorted media environment.

The protests began after the 2024 collapse of a canopy at the newly renovated Novi Sad railway station killed 16 people. The tragedy, widely blamed on corruption, grew into demands for a transparent investigation and eventually calls for an early election.

Professor Jugoslav Gasic, one of 250 candidates on the Student List, told the crowd they were ending 14 years of humiliation, chaos, and betrayal. A 47-year-old attendee, Marija Nedeljkovic Radic, said young people finally gave her hope that it is possible to live in a normal country.

Aleksandar Baucal, a Student List candidate, described the Wednesday welcome as just one step toward Sunday's vote. Another marcher said he hoped it would be the final march in their long struggle.

Voters will cast ballots on Sunday, October 25, in an election described as pivotal for Serbia's future.