Serbia votes: Students try to oust Vucic in snap elections -. Reuters. Unusually long queues formed at polling stations in Belgrade and Novi Sad even before voting began at 7am. It will end at 20:00, the first results will come in about two hours. The snap parliamentary elections called by Vucic come amid nearly two years of student protests against corruption and creeping authoritarianism, sparked by the death of 16 people in the collapse of the Novi Sad train station. A student victory represented a profound political shift in the Balkan country, reminiscent of Viktor Orban's defeat in Hungary in April. It also has the potential to serve as a model for other student movements across Europe, which have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest, often violently, against low levels of education and lack of opportunities. But Vucic, who stepped down from his second term as president to run again for prime minister, is a powerful incumbent. Many voters credit him with lifting Serbia out of economic obscurity and ushering in a period of continued modernization, including new highways, railroads, schools and hospitals. Domestically, Vucic promised to increase pensions and wages in the public sector, invest in health and provide subsidies to young couples. Internationally, it balances closer ties with China, a major investor, and Russia, Serbia's traditional ally and main gas supplier, while leaving open the possibility of joining the European Union. The students' domestic agenda is aimed at rooting out corruption and improving education, but they are much quieter about their international ambitions. Their list of 250 unknown candidates includes university professors, actors and farmers, and is headed by cardiologist Ilya Sardanovich.

Serbia votes: Students try to oust Vucic in snap elections -. Reuters. Unusually long queues formed at polling stations in Belgrade and Novi Sad even before voting began at 7am. It will end at 20:00, the first results will come in about two hours. The snap parliamentary elections called by Vucic come amid nearly two years of student protests against corruption and creeping authoritarianism, sparked by the death of 16 people in the collapse of the Novi Sad train station. A student victory represented a profound political shift in the Balkan country, reminiscent of Viktor Orban's defeat in Hungary in April. It also has the potential to serve as a model for other student movements across Europe, which have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest, often violently, against low levels of education and lack of opportunities. But Vucic, who stepped down from his second term as president to run again for prime minister, is a powerful incumbent. Many voters credit him with lifting Serbia out of economic obscurity and ushering in a period of continued modernization, including new highways, railroads, schools and hospitals. Domestically, Vucic promised to increase pensions and wages in the public sector, invest in health and provide subsidies to young couples. Internationally, it balances closer ties with China, a major investor, and Russia, Serbia's traditional ally and main gas supplier, while leaving open the possibility of joining the European Union. The students' domestic agenda is aimed at rooting out corruption and improving education, but they are much quieter about their international ambitions. Their list of 250 unknown candidates includes university professors, actors and farmers, and is headed by cardiologist Ilya Sardanovich.