A student-led movement has won Serbia’s election, ending a long period of dominance in the country’s politics. President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in Sunday’s historic vote, opening what is expected to be a new political era in the Balkan country, Reuters reported.
Vucic, a populist and nationalist leader, has shaped Serbian politics as either prime minister or president since 2014.
In September, however, he called an early election in the face of nearly two years of student-led protests over allegations of corruption and increasingly authoritarian rule. The movement gathered strength after the collapse of a railway station canopy in the city of Novi Sad in 2024 killed 16 people.
“It is clear that we have lost this election. The students’ list has won,” Vucic said in a televised address.
Celebrations broke out in the streets of the capital, Belgrade, soon after his announcement, and thousands of people later gathered there. The streets rang with car horns, dancing and the students’ chants of “victory” and “he is finished”.
In Serbia, a country of about 6 million people, the win is seen as a sign of major political change, and it is being compared with the defeat of Hungary’s Viktor Orban last April. The result could also become an example for students protesting in other European countries over weak education systems and a lack of prospects.
Citing preliminary results, Vucic said the list backed by the students could win 135 to 140 seats in the 250-seat parliament, and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) 105 seats.
“Dear Serbia, tonight the voice of the people is being heard. Tonight we celebrate victory, and tomorrow we will build the future,” Radomir Sajic, a professor at the University of Belgrade, said at the students’ headquarters.
Record turnout
On Sunday, unprecedented long queues formed at polling stations in towns and villages across the country. Even Vucic had to wait about two hours to vote in Belgrade.
According to pollsters and the election commission, turnout reached about 70 percent, the highest in the country since the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992.
“The high turnout did not surprise me, because a big and strong mass movement has grown over the past two years,” said voter Katarina Petrovic.
Vucic had wanted to step down before the end of his second term as president and run again for prime minister. As the incumbent leader his position was strong, and many in the student movement had not imagined he would admit defeat so quickly.
His supporters credit his government with modernising the economy and building new motorways, railways, schools and hospitals.
Conceding defeat, Vucic said: “Some businesspeople, some people, will leave us. But our organisation is in a strong position. We are united, we are strong, and we have experience of being in opposition.”
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