Serbia’s Student Movement Wins Parliamentary Election as Vucic Concedes Defeat

BELGRADE — Serbian former President Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat in parliamentary elections to the student-led “Student List,” ending nearly 14 years of his dominance over the country’s politics.
Initial projections from Sunday’s snap election indicate that the Student List will win between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is expected to secure around 105 seats. “It is clear that we have lost these elections; the Student List has won,” Vucic said.
Turnout reached nearly 70 percent, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992. Supporters celebrated in Belgrade and other cities after the result became clear.
The movement emerged after the collapse of part of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. Students demanded a transparent investigation, accountability, and institutional responsibility; the protests later widened into a campaign against corruption and weakening democratic institutions.
The Student List fielded teachers, doctors, artists, farmers, and other professionals rather than conventional politicians. Its main demands include action against corruption, depoliticising state institutions, and restoring the rule of law.
The incoming government will face major challenges, including forming a stable administration, implementing reforms, and balancing relations with China, Russia, and the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the student-led movement.
Election monitors reported irregularities, including alleged pressure on voters and polling officials at some stations. Final official results are still awaited, but the outcome marks one of the most significant political shifts in Serbia in decades.