Student-led movement topples Vučić’s political dominance in Serbia

A two-year agitation led by students against corruption, government negligence and authoritarian rule in Serbia has culminated in a historic electoral breakthrough, as President Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat to the student-led political movement, signalling a dramatic shift in the Balkan nation’s political landscape.

Preliminary results indicated that the Student List, a coalition of candidates emerging from the anti-government protests, had secured between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) was projected to win 105 seats. Independent pollsters CeSID and IPSOS estimated the students’ tally at 138, against 104 for the ruling party, with the remaining seats likely to go to ethnic minority representatives.

“We still do not have final results,” Vučić told supporters at his party headquarters in Belgrade, “but it is clear that we have lost these elections.” His admission came amid celebrations across the capital and other cities, where jubilant crowds embraced one another, waved in the streets and greeted police officers with handshakes and high-fives.

For many Serbians, the outcome represented the culmination of a prolonged struggle for accountability and democratic reform. “We can finally breathe again,” said Ivana, 43, who likened the celebrations to three New Year’s Eves rolled into one. She expressed hope that senior figures in the outgoing administration would face scrutiny, as promised by the Student List during its campaign.

The movement traces its origins to November 2024, when a concrete canopy collapsed at the railway station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. The tragedy ignited student protests, which gradually broadened into a nationwide campaign as allegations of corruption, fraud and poor construction practices intensified public anger.

Seizing the opportunity created by snap elections, the students fielded 250 candidates from diverse backgrounds, including academics, athletes and farmers, pledging to revitalise the economy and restore democratic institutions. Their campaign, however, faced considerable obstacles, as the SNS enjoyed extensive influence over broadcast media and state institutions.

Turnout reached an estimated 67.6 per cent by 7pm, according to CeSID and IPSOS, marking the highest level since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992. The result is expected to resonate beyond Serbia, where youth-led protests have challenged established political authorities, and could add fresh impetus to demands for greater accountability across Europe.