Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has come under renewed scrutiny over the candidates on its parliamentary election list, with opposition critics and independent media highlighting figures with controversial records, allegations of intimidation and violence, as well as candidates seen as closely aligned with President Aleksandar Vučić.
The list, submitted ahead of Serbia’s October 25 parliamentary elections under the name “Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia,” places Vučić at the top, followed by Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić.
Among the more controversial names are Samir Tandir, Vladimir Balać and two SNS activists from Čačak who became known after an incident involving eggs being thrown at citizens during protests.
Candidates with controversial records
Samir Tandir, president of the Bosniak-Serb Alliance, is listed at number 43. He was sentenced to seven months in prison over a 2020 physical assault on Sead Veljović in Prijepolje.
According to the court ruling cited by Nova.rs, Tandir attacked Veljović with two meat cleavers, causing injuries to his head and body. Veljović was subsequently hospitalized in Užice with serious injuries.
Nova.rs also reported that Tandir had previously faced proceedings over alleged illegal possession of a firearm after a pistol was found in his bag in 2017.
Another controversial candidate is Vladimir Balać, a student from Novi Sad who is listed at number 91. He became publicly known as one of the prominent representatives of the “students who want to study” movement, which occupied Pionirski Park during university blockades.
In November 2025, opposition MP Biljana Đorđević of the Green-Left Front accused Balać of following and recording her after a parliamentary session and making a gesture she interpreted as a threat to cut her throat. Đorđević filed a criminal complaint, but according to Nova.rs, no final outcome has been reported.
Two candidates from Čačak, Miloš Stevanić and Matija Popović, are also on the list, at numbers 67 and 192 respectively. They became known after an incident in which protesters threw eggs at the local SNS offices and several men emerged from the building. According to Nova.rs, Stevanić and Popović were among those involved in the confrontation.
The list also includes Ivana Macak, who has previously been accused by political activists of breaking into offices belonging to the Initiative for Požega and the Green-Left Front.
Loyalists and prominent public figures
The list also features several well-known figures considered close to Vučić and the ruling party.
Actress Lidija Vukićević is ninth on the list. She received the Golden Medal of Merit from Vučić in June 2025 and previously appeared on the SNS list for the 2020 Belgrade elections. She also participated in SNS campaign activities in 2024 and 2023.
Actor Branislav Lečić is listed at number 15. In 2021, actress Danijela Štajnfeld accused Lečić of rape, alleging that he attacked her in 2012. Lečić denied the allegation. Prosecutors rejected the criminal complaint, and an appeal was subsequently dismissed. No criminal trial was initiated.
At number 27 is medical student Miloš Pavlović, one of the best-known representatives of the “students who want to study” group. Pavlović met Vučić during the student protests and has frequently appeared in the media discussing the group’s positions.
Nova.rs also reported that Pavlović participated in a mobile medical clinic in July, an episode that critics alleged involved violations of professional and legal standards and the political use of patients.
Saša Borojević, an SNS city councilor and political commentator, occupies 18th place. He has frequently appeared on pro-government media and attracted controversy in March 2026 after describing protesting students as “the cancer of this society” that should be “removed” as soon as possible.
The list also includes Vukašin Vučićević, identified as a law student and the son of Dragan J. Vučićević, editor-in-chief of the pro-government Informer newspaper.
Aleksa Grubešić, listed at number 64, is associated with the Center for Social Stability, an organization that Nova.rs describes as having longstanding links to SNS and state institutions. He is also the author of the documentary “Anatomy of Deception – Srebrenica,” which Nova.rs says denies the Srebrenica genocide.
Criticism from Bojan Pajtić
Commenting on the controversial names, former Democratic Party leader and Novi Sad law professor Bojan Pajtić told Nova.rs that the SNS list reflected what he described as a mixture of political loyalty, media visibility and personal connections.
Pajtić argued that the party’s candidate selection had become a combination of political spectacle and personal networks, claiming that SNS was increasingly selecting people who represent the ruling party rather than citizens.
He also criticized the inclusion of figures associated with aggressive rhetoric and controversies, arguing that the list demonstrated the criteria used by the party leadership when selecting candidates.
SNS has not been quoted in the report as responding directly to Pajtić’s criticism.
Senior ministers absent from the list
Notably absent from the list are several prominent government figures, including Finance Minister Siniša Mali, Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić, Foreign Minister Marko Đurić and Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar.
Their absence contrasts with the prominent placement of several entertainers, activists and political loyalists.
At the same time, a number of long-serving SNS lawmakers have been placed much further down the list, significantly reducing their chances of returning to parliament.
SNS veterans pushed down the list
Veteran MP Veroljub Arsić is listed at number 116. According to data from Otvoreni parlament cited by Nova.rs, he was first elected to parliament in 2001 and has served in nine parliamentary terms.
Marko Atlagić, another long-serving SNS MP, is at number 141. He has been a member of parliament continuously since 2012.
Atlagić has long been known for confrontational speeches and personal attacks against political opponents, journalists and public figures. His past remarks have included insults directed at sociologist Jovo Bakić, historian Dubravka Stojanović, actress Seka Sablić and opposition politicians.
Another veteran SNS lawmaker, Nebojša Bakarec, is listed at number 81 and has likewise attracted attention over his inflammatory remarks toward political opponents.
Pajtić described the placement of longtime lawmakers near the bottom of the list as evidence that the party was replacing established figures while retaining a strong emphasis on loyalty to its leadership.
The composition of the list has therefore become a political story in its own right, highlighting the continued centrality of Vučić to the SNS electoral campaign while raising questions over how the ruling party balances political loyalty, public visibility, controversy and parliamentary experience.
