France, Oct. 25 -- The snap parliamentary election follows a wave of demonstrations against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism, sparked by the deaths of 16 people when a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024.

What began as a student protest movement has since drawn widespread support, setting the stage for a closely fought contest with Vucic, who has held power since 2014.

Turnout reached 27.3 percent by 11am, according to pollsters and election monitors CeSID and Ipsos - nearly double the 15.1 percent recorded at the same point in the previous election in 2023.

Queues stretched outside polling stations in cities and towns across the country. Even Vucic waited nearly two hours to cast his ballot.

"It is ...