Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat to a student-led movement in parliamentary elections, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape. The Students' List, backed by the protest coalition, is projected to secure between 135 and 140 seats in Parliament, while Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party is expected to hold 105 seats.
Vucic, who had served as both prime minister and president since 2014, acknowledged losing the elections based on a stratified sample. The victory of the student movement, which has been protesting against Vucic's government for nearly two years, comes after a deadly train station collapse in Novi Sad in 2024 sparked widespread demonstrations against alleged corruption and poor infrastructure standards.
The election results signal a potential shift away from Serbia's ties with Russia and Vladimir Putin, who had supported Vucic. The outcome is being compared to Hungary's recent election, where a similar populist leader was defeated, highlighting a broader trend of political change in Eastern Europe.
The elections saw the highest voter turnout since Yugoslavia's dissolution, with 70% of voters participating. The results are seen as a major step towards democratic reforms and a challenge to Vucic's long-standing rule, with the new government likely to focus on accountability, transparency, and institutional reforms.