Israel's great ally faces a decisive day for its future
Serbia faces crucial elections this Sunday, after former President Vučić resigned to run for Prime Minister. The student protest following the Novi Sad disaster has created a new list opposing him. Conflicting polls point to a tight race, with smaller parties at risk of disappearing from parliament.
Serbian citizens are expected to vote this Sunday, October 25, 2026, in elections that will decide the country's political future, described in the article as a key ally of Israel since the October 7 massacre. The backdrop to the elections is the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad train station in November 2024, which killed 16 people. The disaster led to a nationwide student protest demanding early elections, following which President Aleksandar Vučić resigned from the presidency in September to run for Prime Minister. At the center is Vučić's 'United Serbia' list against the 'Students Win' list led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanović. Conflicting polls: an NSPM poll gives the students 44.5% versus 42.7% for Vučić, while a Faktor Plus poll shows an advantage for Vučić at 48.6% versus 37.1%. Smaller parties, including the Socialists of Ivica Dačić, are at risk of falling below the 3% electoral threshold. The monitoring organization CRTA has reported over a hundred violent incidents in the campaign and media bias in favor of the government, raising concerns about disputes over the election results.