File photo: Supporters of the electoral list “Student List – Students Win” celebrate after Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) prime ministerial candidate, conceded defeat in the parliamentary election
The election marks a major political shift in the Balkan country, where Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) had held power for 14 years. Vucic said his party’s projections showed the Students’ List winning between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member Parliament, compared with around 105 for the SNS. Vucic had served as either prime minister or president since 2014 and presided over a period of strong economic growth. But his government faced mounting opposition after a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16 people.
Monitors reported dozens of suspected irregularities, including ballot photographing that suggested pressure on voters and attempted vote-buying.
“The Students’ List has won,” Vucic told supporters at his party’s election-night event. He blamed independent media, unnamed European countries and what he called an “American deep state” for the defeat. The disaster triggered student-led protests over alleged corruption, cronyism and irregularities in renovation work. The movement’s campaign focused on rebuilding the economy and restoring democracy, drawing support from voters disillusioned with established political parties. Supporters travelled by bicycle and on foot through the country to reach voters in rural areas that had traditionally backed Vucic. The election was closely watched by the European Union, as Serbia is a candidate for membership. International and local observers had also raised concerns about detentions, extensive government control over the media, and reports of surveillance and cyberattacks targeting activists. The movement now faces the challenge of translating its electoral victory into government, while voters and international observers await the next steps in Serbia’s political transition.
Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Serbia’s capital on Sunday night, bringing traffic to a halt and celebrating after long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in parliamentary elections to a student-backed opposition movement.