Shortly before the Serbian parliamentary election, around 150,000 supporters of the opposition student list demonstrated in Belgrade. The election could change the country's political direction and raises questions about Serbia's relationship with the EU, Russia and the German economy.

In November 2024, a train station canopy collapsed in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, killing 16 people - almost two years later, the mass movement that emerged after the incident led to the resignation of President Aleksandar Vučić of the Serbian Progressive Party. However, he is not yet ready to step down from the political stage and is running for the office of Prime Minister in the upcoming parliamentary elections with his Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia list.

The protest movement, in turn, gathered in the student list - Studenten Siegen. Different than thatname suggests, this is not a list of students as candidates. The students chose people who have already had successful careers as their representatives. These include teachers, professors, scientists, lawyers, and other professional fields. The collection movement does not have a sophisticated, uniform program. There is not even a candidate for head of government.

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The first candidate on the list, cardiologist Ilija Srdanović, even emphasizes the flat hierarchy within his political movement. The broad alliance is united by its stance against corruption and the authoritarian state restructuring that the Vučić government has been pursuing for years. One of the slogans is: “Either Serbia or the Mafia!” The entire system of corruption and authoritarian government style established by Vučić is to be eliminated; there is talk of a “reset”.

Despite this, or perhaps precisely because of this, the electoral alliance enjoys great popularity among the population. On Thursday, the Student List held a demonstration in Belgrade with a final rally in Slavija Square. An estimated 150,000 Serbs took part. Nevertheless, it isoutcome of the electionuncertain and polls point to a close election result.

Rapprochement with the EU?

The Serbian parliamentary election could also mean a change in the country's foreign policy. The previous President Vučić was always a nuisance for the European Union. Vučić's government has sympathized with its traditional ally Russia in recent years. Nevertheless, she sought Serbia's entryto the EUto.

Serbian students: “We don’t want puppets of the West or East”

Although Vučić's government seeks proximity to Russia in foreign policy, it is also an important economic partner for the EU and Germany in particular. Like Lucia Steinwender inSurplus Magazinedescribes, Vučić has specifically developed Serbia into a location for foreign industrial groups. With state subsidies, tax breaks and low wages, his government attracted numerous car suppliers to the country, including Continental, Bosch and ZF. At the same time, poor working conditions and weak occupational safety are widespread in the industry. Economic geographer Stefanie Hürtgen explains the situation in Serbia: “Investors go to places where labor protection and the welfare state are particularly weakened.”

The German federal government also promotes economic cooperation with Serbia, among other things in the interests of German industry. In addition to car supplies, this is also reflected in the lithium agreement between Serbia and the EU, which was concluded in 2024 despite violent protests in the country. Student list candidate Zoran Đajić therefore criticizes: “EU countries like Germany are not concerned with democracy in Serbia, but with their own economic interests.”

One of theMain points of criticismThe student movement in the previous government is again that Vučić is delaying EU accession. Your election victory could therefore mean an accelerated rapprochement with Brussels, even if the implications of such an election outcome are not yet clear due to the lack of a unified political program.

The EU and its member states, on the other hand, openly announce that they want to integrate Serbia into their own sphere of power. The Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul (CDU), saidon a trip to the Balkanslast year, Serbia had to “decide fundamentally whether it wanted to go to Europe or whether it wanted to cling to Russia.” This strategy of expansion into southeastern Europe is currently quite successful for the EU. Chancellor Merz traveled to Montenegro on Thursday to campaign for early EU accession.

EU Western Balkans summit: Germany supports faster accession procedures

Dissolved in HungaryPeter Magyarthe previous Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in May. Orbán was considered a secret ally of Russia within the EU and blocked projects such as a 90 billion euro projectWar creditto Ukraine. His successor Magyar, on the other hand, is considered an EU supporter and brought Hungary back into Brussels' sphere of influence after taking office. It could now be decided on Sunday whether Serbia follows this path or remains neutral.

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