Student-backed opposition wins historic Serbian election; Vucic concedes defeat

BELGRADE — Serbia’s student-backed opposition alliance, the Student List, has won a historic victory in the country’s snap parliamentary elections, while former President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in a televised address.
According to preliminary results from the Republic Electoral Commission, the Student List secured 52.71 per cent of the vote, or 2,267,615 ballots, winning 140 seats in the 250-member National Assembly.
Vucic’s “Aleksandar Vucic — United Serbia” alliance received 39.17 per cent, or 1,685,022 votes, and won 104 seats, while four minority lists also secured representation. More than 4.3 million voters cast ballots in the election.
“It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has won,” Vucic said. He pledged to respect the result, but blamed independent media, certain European countries and what he called the “US deep state” for his defeat.
Thousands of people poured onto the streets of Belgrade to celebrate after the opposition victory was announced. Voter turnout was close to 70 per cent, the highest in Serbia since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992.
The election followed nearly two years of student-led protests against alleged corruption and authoritarianism, which began after the roof collapse at Novi Sad railway station in 2024 killed 16 people.
The Student List is led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic and includes university professors, actors and farmers. A representative of the movement, Dejan Soskic, urged supporters to maintain peace and thanked voters for their conduct during the election.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Student List and said the European Union was ready to work together to advance Serbia’s European future.