Serbia votes in election between Vucic and student-led opposition

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 06:32 · Archive

Serbians are voting in a parliamentary election between populist leader Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party and a youth-backed Students' List.

Serbians are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election seen as a showdown between populist leader Aleksandar Vucic and a student-led movement. Serbia's 6.4 million voters are choosing from 18 parties for the 250-member Parliament, but the election has effectively become a referendum between Vucic's right-wing Serbian Progressive Party and the youth-backed Students' List.

The two main contenders are believed to be polling neck-and-neck, making this the most uncertain election in recent years. Turnout is expected to be high, which could push most smaller parties below the 3% threshold needed to enter parliament. The leaderless youth movement, which led protests against Vucic for almost two years, has proved to be a formidable opponent that has rattled his grip on power more than any other force in the 14 years since his party took office.

Both international and local election monitors have expressed concern about the safety and fairness of the campaign. They have cited detentions, near-total government control over the media, and reports of surveillance and cyberattacks against activists. The European Union is watching the conduct of the vote closely, as Serbia is a candidate nation for bloc membership.

How it is being reported

• Serbia holds a parliamentary election as populist Vucic faces protesting studentsSerbians are voting in a parliamentary election seen as a showdown between populist leader Aleksandar Vucic and a student-led movement.Clickorlando · 25 Oct, 05:58
• Serbia holds a parliamentary election as populist Vucic faces protesting studentsSerbians are voting in a parliamentary election seen as a showdown between populist leader Aleksandar Vucic and a student-led movement.News4Jax · 25 Oct, 05:58

In this story: Serbia · Aleksandar Vucic · Serbian Progressive Party · Students' List · European Union · Belgrade

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