Vucic concedes as student-backed list wins Serbian election

BELGRADE: Serbia woke to a new political era on Monday after a student-backed protest movement unseated long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic in a landslide parliamentary election. Few people, however, knew how the winners would govern.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade and other cities and towns after Vucic conceded defeat late on Sunday. The celebrations followed two years of peaceful anti-government protests demanding that the right-wing populist leader step down.

With almost 99 per cent of votes counted, the students' candidates had won 52.7 per cent, according to the State Election Commission. Vucic's alliance, led by the Serbia Progressive Party (SNS), took 39.2 per cent.

The result gives the students 139 seats in the 250-seat parliament. The SNS-led alliance has 97 seats. Minority parties hold the rest.

The Constitution allows up to 90 days to form a government. The period starts once parliament is convened after the election commission announces the final results.

Vucic dominated Serbian politics as prime minister or president from 2014. The student-backed list grew out of anti-corruption protests after 16 people died when a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024.

The candidates include university professors, actors and farmers. The movement has no leader. It used that approach during the protests to avoid smear attempts by the government.

It is unclear who will become prime minister or take other key posts. The students' domestic agenda aims to root out corruption and improve schooling. The new government must also manage Serbia's place on the international stage.

The win marks a major political shift in the country of six million people. It recalls the defeat of Hungary's populist leader Viktor Orban in April. It may also inspire student movements that have emerged across Europe in recent weeks, demanding better education standards and prospects.

"I thought it was unbelievable, I still do not believe it. It was too long, and [Vucic] was pressuring us for a long, long time," said Marijana Radovanovic Pajovic, a university administrator.

Svetlana Karagkozidou, 60, who works in insurance, said: "This corruption that has entered into all pores of our lives … of course it will change, we are hoping we will slowly go into that direction of a normal community."