Serbia votes in historic election as students seek to end Vucic's long grip on power

Key Points:

• Serbian voters turned out in large numbers for snap parliamentary elections called by Aleksandar Vucic, amid a mass student protest movement aiming to challenge his decade-long rule.
• The elections follow nearly two years of student-led demonstrations triggered by a fatal train station collapse in Novi Sad, with students campaigning against corruption and authoritarianism and gaining widespread support.
• Opinion polls indicate a tight race between Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party and the student-led opposition, with turnout expected to be historically high and results anticipated shortly after polls close.
• Vucic, a strong incumbent credited with economic modernization, has pledged social and economic benefits, while the student movement focuses on anti-corruption and education reform but remains less vocal on international policy.
• The election is seen as a potential turning point for Serbian democracy, with both sides emphasizing peaceful and legitimate outcomes amid accusations of repression and foreign interference.