Serbia’s student-led movement won an absolute majority in Sunday’s parliamentary election, ousting Aleksandar Vučić’s government after 14 years in power.
The Student List secured 52.65% of the vote, translating to 140 of 250 seats, while Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party took 103 seats, according to preliminary results. Turnout reached 68.78%, the highest in decades, following months of student protests over state negligence and corruption.
Vučić conceded defeat within minutes of polls closing on 25 October, marking a rare and swift acknowledgment of loss. The victory sparked celebrations across Belgrade, with supporters embracing in the streets, as reported by local observers.
Acting President Ana Brnabić, a senior Progressive Party official, accused the Student List of launching a “witch hunt” against Vučić. In a post on X, she claimed the movement sought his arrest over the collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad, calling the allegations absurd and politically motivated .
The Student List’s success extended beyond major cities, winning in 22 out of 24 municipalities, including Novi Pazar, where it outperformed ethnic-based parties by significant margins. The Progressive Party retained strong support only in Kosovo and prison populations, where it won 66% of the vote, an increase from 2023.
Prosecutors have since announced investigations into sensitive cases, including the Novi Sad canopy collapse and alleged surveillance of students and activists. The probes follow the election and Vučić’s concession, signaling a potential shift in accountability.
European leaders reportedly intervened to deter Vučić from attempting to overturn the results by force, according to multiple outlets. A former police commander alleged thousands of officers were deployed in Belgrade, though Vučić’s office denied the claims .
The Student List has pledged to address corruption and restore institutional independence, inheriting a political landscape deeply tied to Russian energy interests. The movement’s next steps will determine how far Serbia’s political transformation extends.
