Serbia Election: Student-Led Protest Movement Defeats Vučić After 14 Years in Power
Serbia Election: Student-Led Protest Movement Defeats Vučić After 14 Years in Power
Celebrations have erupted across Serbia after a student-backed opposition movement defeated the ruling party of veteran political leader Aleksandar Vučić in parliamentary elections.
Thousands of people gathered in Belgrade and other cities on Sunday night after Vučić conceded defeat. Supporters celebrated in the streets, waved Serbian flags, sounded car horns and set off fireworks following the announcement.
The election result marks a major political change for the Balkan country, where Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party have dominated national politics for more than a decade.
The victory followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations demanding accountability, transparency and action against corruption.
Student-Led Movement Wins Serbia Election
Preliminary results showed that the student-backed Students’ List received approximately 52.7 per cent of the vote, compared with 39.2 per cent for the alliance led by Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party.
With nearly 99 per cent of votes counted, the student-backed movement was projected to secure 139 seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament. The ruling party’s alliance was projected to win 97 seats, while minority parties would hold the remaining seats.
The results represented a major setback for Vučić, who had remained one of the country’s most influential political figures since 2012.
Vučić conceded defeat late on Sunday, acknowledging that his political alliance had lost the election. However, he blamed foreign interference for the result without providing publicly established evidence to support the allegation.
The student-backed movement’s victory followed a campaign that attracted voters from different political backgrounds. Its candidates included academics, doctors, farmers, actors and other professionals.
Novi Sad Railway Disaster Sparked Protests
The movement emerged following the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024.
The disaster killed 16 people and triggered public anger over alleged corruption, construction standards and government accountability.
Students began organising demonstrations and demanding a transparent investigation into the tragedy. Their protests gradually expanded beyond the railway disaster, becoming a broader campaign against corruption and the concentration of political power.
Demonstrators called for greater accountability from public officials and reforms to institutions they believed had failed to protect citizens.
The movement continued to grow despite months of political tension and repeated demonstrations.
Its decision to contest the parliamentary election transformed a protest campaign into a direct challenge to Vučić’s ruling alliance.
Celebrations Fill Streets Across Serbia
Crowds gathered in central Belgrade after the election result became clear.
Supporters danced, chanted slogans and celebrated what many described as an opportunity for political change. Similar scenes were reported in Novi Sad and other Serbian cities.
Some demonstrators also dismantled barriers and tents near parliament that had been associated with a pro-government encampment.
For many supporters, the result represented the culmination of a lengthy campaign demanding a more accountable government.
However, not everyone welcomed the political shift. Some voters expressed uncertainty about the movement’s leadership and its ability to manage the country.
The celebrations therefore came alongside questions about how the incoming parliamentary majority would organise itself and implement its promises.
Who Will Lead Serbia’s New Government?
Despite its electoral success, the student-backed movement faces a significant challenge in forming a government.
The Students’ List does not have a widely established political leader comparable to Vučić. Its candidates come from different professional backgrounds, and the movement has built its identity around shared demands for reform.
Among the prominent figures associated with the list are cardiologist Ilija Srdanović, former central bank governor Dejan Šoškić and Belgrade University professor Radomir Šajčić.
The movement has pledged to address corruption, improve education and strengthen public institutions. It has also called for greater independence for public broadcasting and action against officials accused of abusing their positions.
Turning those promises into legislation and administrative changes will require cooperation among its parliamentary representatives.
The new majority will also need to address disagreements over Serbia’s future relationship with the European Union, Russia and other international partners.
Vučić’s Political Future Remains Uncertain
Vučić’s defeat ends a period of political dominance that began when his party came to power in 2012.
During his time in government, he served as prime minister and president. Ahead of the latest election, he left the presidency to pursue a return to the premiership.
His government faced persistent criticism from opponents and some independent observers over media freedom, electoral fairness and the independence of state institutions. Vučić and his party have denied allegations of corruption and repression.
Following his concession, Vučić said his political movement would continue working from opposition.
The election result could therefore reshape Serbia’s political institutions and create new opportunities for reforms. However, the practical impact will depend on how the incoming parliamentary majority governs.
For the student-led movement, the election victory marks the beginning of a new political responsibility rather than the end of its campaign for change.
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