Serbia will hold a snap parliamentary election on October 25, President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on September 8, setting up the biggest electoral test for his ruling party since student-led protests erupted nearly two years ago.

Vucic said he would formally dissolve parliament and call the election at noon on September 9, after receiving a proposal from the government to dissolve the 250-seat National Assembly.

"I will announce everything on Wednesday at exactly 12:00. The elections will be held in Serbia on October 25," Vucic told public broadcaster RTS.

Under Serbian law, between 45 and 60 days must pass between the announcement of an election and polling day. Vucic said the campaign would last 46 days.

The election will take place more than a year before the next regular parliamentary vote, expected in late 2027, and will be the first national election since protests began after the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024 killed 16 people.

Student protest leaders are preparing candidates for a "Student List", which could pose the strongest challenge yet to Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

A June opinion poll showed 45% of decided voters would back a potential student list, compared with 36% for the SNS, although the students have yet to announce their candidates or a detailed policy platform.

Vucic seeks premiership                 

The SNS will contest the election under the "United Serbia" name, with its main board selecting Vucic as the holder of the list and its candidate for prime minister if the alliance wins.

Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics as president or prime minister for more than a decade, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third presidential term when his current mandate expires in 2027. He has said he plans to leave the presidency and seek the premiership if his political camp wins the parliamentary election.

The ruling party retains a strong organisational advantage and significant influence over Serbia's broadcast media. It won all contested local elections in March, although its share of the vote fell.

The government has also announced measures to support household incomes ahead of the election, with almost €1bn in one-off payments to pensioners, welfare recipients and other citizens.

From September 7, citizens have been able to register for a one-off payment of RSD6,000 (about €50), which will be paid later this month. Citizens are now deciding whether to cash in on what opponents say amounts to a vote-buying scheme.

Vucic says he will accept the election result, whatever it is, and congratulate his opponents if they win.

The announcement comes after Vucic faced criticism over the funeral of convicted Bosnian Serb wartime commander Ratko Mladic, which drew condemnation from Brussels and some countries in the region.

Vucic said the reactions to the funeral had been expected and that it had "served as an alibi for many in the region to show how much they hate Serbia".