Serbia’s student-led movement won a decisive victory in parliamentary elections on 25 October, ending 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party.
Vučić conceded defeat less than two hours after polls closed, telling supporters his coalition had lost to the Student List, which preliminary results showed winning 52.54% of the vote to his 39.29%. The state election commission reported the Student List secured 140 seats in the 250-seat parliament, with Vučić’s alliance taking 103. Turnout reached 68.78%, the highest in a decade.
The movement, rooted in protests that began after a November 2024 train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people, fielded a leaderless list of 250 candidates including academics, scientists, and athletes. Cardiologist Ilija Srdanović, a professor at the University of Novi Sad, topped the list. Celebrations erupted in Belgrade and other cities as crowds chanted “Victory” and set fire to a pro-Vučić encampment in Pionir Park.
Vučić, who resigned as president in September to run for prime minister, had framed the vote as a referendum on his rule. He claimed the new government would impose sanctions on Russia, but the Student List denied this, reaffirming its opposition to such measures in its platform. The list also pledged to maintain Serbia’s traditional ties with Russia while supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and calling Ukrainians a “friendly people.”
EU leaders quickly welcomed the result. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was ready to support reforms in justice, press freedom, and anti-corruption efforts, and to advance Serbia’s EU membership bid. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European officials also congratulated the movement. Russia and China stated they would continue cooperation with Belgrade under the new government.
