Serbs Flood Polls With Vucic's Reign on the Line

Serbia's streets sent a clear signal Sunday: This vote is not politics as usual. Turnout surged to record levels in snap parliamentary elections widely considered the toughest test yet for Aleksandar Vucic, who has dominated the Balkan nation's politics for more than a decade. Long lines formed Sunday at polling stations, Reuters reports, with participation by late morning nearly double that of the 2023 vote. Vucic had to wait almost two hours to cast his ballot. Serbs also formed long lines in Slovenia's capital of Ljubljana, Munich, Los Angeles, and Chicago, per the BBC. Voters in Paris waited in a heavy rain.

The contest pits Vucic's ruling bloc—campaigning on economic gains, higher pensions, and tight ties with both Russia and China—against a student-driven movement born out of anger over alleged corruption and heavy-handed rule after a deadly train station collapse in 2024. Vucic is barred from a third term as president and is seeking to become prime minister. Led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, the largely unknown slate promises cleaner government and better schools. Early results were expected a few hours after polls closed. Vucic said Sunday that he'll respect the election result either way. "If we lose we will acknowledge the will of the electorate, if we win no one will take it (from us)," he said.