Vucic Concedes Defeat to Student Movement in Serbia: Student List Set for 135–140 Seats in 250-Seat Parliament

Serbia's long-standing political order has suffered a major blow. President Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat to the student-led movement in the country's snap parliamentary election.

Vucic had been in power in Serbia since 2012. The defeat, coming after nearly two years of mass protests against corruption and authoritarian rule, is being seen as the start of a new chapter in Serbian politics.

Vucic himself admitted defeat at a press conference held after voting ended on Sunday (25 October).

Based on the preliminary vote count, he said the student-backed ‘Student List’ candidates were set to win between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament. His ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), by contrast, won about 105 seats.

Although the final results had not yet been announced, Vucic stated plainly: “It is clear that we have lost this election.”

Immediately after his announcement, supporters of the student movement erupted in celebration in the capital Belgrade and in other cities. Young people and ordinary citizens poured onto the streets, honking horns and chanting slogans to celebrate the victory.

The seeds of this change in Serbia were sown in November 2024, when the canopy of a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad collapsed, killing 16 people.

The disaster sparked intense anger across the country over the quality of the project's construction work, government transparency and corruption. Students began the protests, but they quickly grew into a mass movement of teachers, professionals and ordinary people from all walks of life.

To carry the movement forward, the students stepped outside conventional politics and prepared an independent list of candidates drawn from doctors, teachers, artists and farmers. Cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic was put forward as the leading face of the list.

Over nearly two years, the movement's central demand became the fall of the Vucic government and accountability for state institutions.

The election commission said turnout in this election was 64.9 percent, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992.

However, some allegations of irregularities were also raised during voting. According to independent observer organisations, isolated incidents occurred at various centres, including pressure on voters, violations of ballot secrecy and photographing of ballots.

For the young leadership that has come to power promising to fight corruption, establish the rule of law and reform the education system, the biggest challenge now is forming the next government and delivering on its election promises. The end of the long chapter of Vucic and his party may also create a new equation in Serbia's domestic politics and in the country's relations with the European Union.