Narodni Pokret Srbije (NPS) Vice President and MP Đorđe Stanković has called on the Council of Europe to closely monitor Serbia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, arguing that the process must take place without pressure on voters, manipulation or restrictions on voters’ freedom of choice.
Stanković made the remarks during a visit to Strasbourg, where he addressed issues concerning democracy, electoral conditions and the political situation in Serbia, according to a statement from NPS.
He pointed to what he described as longstanding problems surrounding elections in Serbia, including alleged pressure on voters, the misuse of public resources, unequal media conditions and concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.
The Council of Europe has identified democratic elections as a cornerstone of democracy and conducts election observation through the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), among other mechanisms. Serbia remains under the Assembly’s monitoring procedure.
Stanković also highlighted the role of students and young people in Serbia’s political and social life, saying they have become an important part of demands for democratic change.
“Serbia needs free and democratic elections, without electoral theft and without repression,” Stanković said, according to the NPS statement.
He called on European partners to support democratic initiatives involving Serbia’s younger generation and urged international institutions to pay particular attention to the conduct of the elections.
“Students have awakened Serbia. A large part of Serbian society is now gathering around demands for democratic change. Change is no longer just an idea,” Stanković said.
He argued that any new electoral manipulation or pressure on voters could further deepen Serbia’s political crisis, while emphasizing what he described as the importance of both domestic institutions and international scrutiny in protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
Stanković concluded his address with the message: “STUDENTS ARE WINNING!”
The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly is currently holding its autumn 2026 session in Strasbourg. Its agenda includes election-related work and monitoring of democratic institutions in member states.
