Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić is set to take part in a televised election debate with Mirjana Nikolić, rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade and a candidate on the “Student List – Students Are Winning,” in what marks the first debate between representatives of the two electoral lists on N1.
The debate, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, at 8 p.m., will focus on education and forms part of N1’s series of live programmes ahead of Serbia’s snap parliamentary elections on October 25. Brnabić is third on the “Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia” list, while Nikolić is 90th on the Student List.
Brnabić has been an active participant in the election campaign for several months, appearing at party events, television programmes and public gatherings. During her appearances, she has emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections, described them as difficult for Serbia and criticized the opposition and student-backed lists, while highlighting stability and economic development as priorities.
The N1 debate represents a different campaign setting from Brnabić’s previous appearances, according to political analysts quoted by Danas. Balša Božović, executive director of the Academy for Democratic Development, argues that the debate should be viewed in the context of efforts to mobilize or demobilize different groups of voters.
Božović said Brnabić’s previous campaign activities had primarily been aimed at consolidating support among the governing bloc’s voters, while he interpreted the N1 appearance as having a different political purpose. He argued that the debate could be used to present the Student List as divided or insufficiently prepared for governing.
Political analyst Miljan Mladenović similarly told Danas that the debate is notable because senior representatives of the authorities are appearing on N1, a television outlet that, according to him, is watched less by voters who support the ruling parties.
Mladenović said the appearance could give Brnabić an opportunity to present differences within the opposition and student-backed political camp, while potentially reaching voters who remain undecided about participating in the election.
At the same time, the participation of Mirjana Nikolić gives the Student List an opportunity to present its positions directly in a televised discussion with a senior representative of the governing bloc. Nikolić has said she joined the student-backed electoral initiative primarily as a citizen and has participated in developing its programme on higher education.
N1 has described the debate as part of a broader series of thematic election programmes designed to give representatives of competing parties and coalitions an opportunity to present and confront their positions before voters.
The debate comes as Serbia enters the final month before the October 25 parliamentary elections, with competing lists seeking to mobilize supporters and reach voters who have not yet decided whether or how to participate.
