Serbia’s Student List is proposing changes to taxation, housing, employment rules and public spending after winning 52.73% of the vote, or approximately 2.26 million ballots, according to preliminary results from the Republic Electoral Commission covering 8,155 polling stations.
The Aleksandar Vučić–United Serbia list received 39.15%, while election projections indicated that the Student List could secure around 141 of the 250 parliamentary seats.
The proposed economic programme emphasises domestic businesses, innovation, institutional accountability and household purchasing power, although several measures still lack detailed fiscal assessments, implementation schedules and specific tax rates.
Progressive Taxation and Consumer Protection
A central proposal is a more progressive tax system that would reduce the burden on lower-income households while shifting more taxation towards higher incomes and wealth. Specific rates have not been publicly defined.
The programme also calls for stronger action against monopolistic practices and measures to improve the position of domestic producers. The Student List links relatively high food and consumer goods prices partly to weak competition and the market power of major retailers and importers.
Housing and Employment Measures
Proposed housing measures include more affordable rental arrangements, potential rent-to-buy schemes and tax incentives for younger people and families.
The programme also proposes reducing the maximum duration of fixed-term employment contracts from 24 months to 12 months. Supporters say the change would encourage permanent employment, while businesses would need to assess its impact on hiring flexibility and labour costs.
Support for Domestic Businesses and Public-Sector Reform
Industrial policy would give greater priority to domestic companies, start-ups, agriculture and small and medium-sized enterprises. Subsidies and grants would remain available, with an emphasis on higher-value goods and services and stronger cooperation between universities, vocational education and industry.
The programme also calls for greater transparency in public finances, including publication of state contracts, tighter oversight of public procurement and more professional management of state-owned companies. These changes could affect infrastructure contracting, state aid and competition for state-backed projects. Social proposals include free school textbooks, improved healthcare access and measures to reduce medicine prices.
Budget Impact Remains Unclear
The cost of implementing the agenda has not been comprehensively estimated. Tax relief, housing support, social benefits and business incentives would create fiscal demands, while several proposals aim to increase household disposable income.
The government’s composition, the finance ministry’s first budget and future tax and investment legislation will provide further clarity on implementation. The central challenge will be to balance higher living standards, fiscal stability and Serbia’s attractiveness to domestic and foreign investors.
