Belgrade, Oct 26:
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat in the country’s parliamentary election after preliminary results indicated a decisive victory for the student-led Student List movement, marking a major setback for the political establishment he has dominated for more than a decade.
Vucic acknowledged the defeat in a televised address on Sunday, saying the Student List had won the election. Based on preliminary estimates, he said the movement was expected to secure between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while his Serbian Progressive Party was projected to win 105 seats. Final official results were still awaited.
The election followed nearly two years of student-led protests that erupted after 16 people died when a railway station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in 2024. The demonstrations developed into a wider campaign demanding accountability, action against corruption and changes to the country’s political system.
The Student List brought together candidates from different backgrounds, including academics, actors and farmers. Led by Ilija Srdanovic, the movement has focused on tackling corruption, strengthening the rule of law and improving education. Tens of thousands of people celebrated in Belgrade after Vucic acknowledged the result.
Vucic has been a central figure in Serbian politics since becoming prime minister in 2014 and later president in 2017. The election result represents a major challenge to his political camp, following sustained criticism from protesters who accused the government of failing to ensure accountability and address concerns over governance.
Despite its projected parliamentary majority, the student-backed movement now faces the task of forming a government and translating its protest platform into policy. It will also have to navigate Serbia’s relations with the European Union, China and Russia, while addressing domestic demands for institutional reform.
The result highlights how a movement that began with street demonstrations can move into electoral politics. The immediate test for the Student List will be whether it can maintain public support while forming a government and delivering on its promises.