Story perspectives

Student List Wins First Lead in Serbia Election Polls

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Serbia held elections on Sunday, with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and the Student List—academics, doctors and engineers—contesting.
A Thought poll gave the Student List 44.5% support versus the SNS’s 42.7%, the first opposition lead since 2012.
The European Commission said Serbia has not implemented key electoral reforms, stressing democracy for EU accession.
CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats during the campaign.

History

Historical Context

The 2000 Serbian presidential election, held on 24 September 2000, toppled Slobodan Miloševic and signaled the end of a decade-long authoritarian rule. The opposition coalition Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) secured 55 % of the vote, outpacing Miloševic’s Socialist Party by 5 percentage points. Today's contest between the Serbian Progressive Party and the Student List mirrors that 2000 shift, as opposition polls lead for the first time since 2012. The 2000 breakthrough prompted EU-driven electoral reforms, yet lingering violence and reform gaps risk stalling Serbia’s EU accession roadmap for the future.

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Story summary

Serbia held elections on Sunday, with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and the Student List—academics, doctors and engineers—contesting.
A Thought poll gave the Student List 44.5% support versus the SNS’s 42.7%, the first opposition lead since 2012.
The European Commission said Serbia has not implemented key electoral reforms, stressing democracy for EU accession.
CRTA recorded 116 incidents of physical violence or verbal threats during the campaign.

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