Student Movement Wins as Vucic Admits Defeat

Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who resigned last September to run for prime minister, conceded defeat in a historic election on Sunday (25 October 2026). The result marks a victory for the student movement, which has staged protests for nearly two years against alleged corruption and what it says is the government’s increasingly authoritarian direction.

Vucic’s defeat also ends his dominance of Serbian politics for more than a decade and opens a new chapter for the Balkan country, which has a population of about six million.

A populist and nationalist politician, Vucic has dominated Serbia’s political scene since 2014, serving as both prime minister and president.

Growing pressure from student demonstrations led him to call an early election in September. The protests began after the canopy at a railway station in the city of Novi Sad collapsed in 2024, killing 16 people. The tragedy fuelled public anger over alleged corruption and poor governance.

“It is clear that we have lost this election; the Student List has won,” Vucic said in a televised address, Reuters reported.

Soon after the announcement, streets in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, filled with people celebrating the student movement’s victory. The crowds grew to tens of thousands. Cars honked, people danced, and students chanted “victory” and “he’s finished”.

The students’ win marks a major political shift in Serbia and recalls Viktor Orban’s defeat in Hungary last April. The result could also inspire student movements in other European countries, where protests have recently focused on poor education and limited prospects for the future.

According to preliminary results, Vucic said the student group was expected to win between 135 and 140 of the 250 parliamentary seats. His Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), meanwhile, was expected to secure only 105 seats.

“Dear Serbia, tonight the people’s voice has been heard,” said Radomir Sajcic, a professor at the University of Belgrade, speaking on behalf of the students at their movement’s headquarters.

“Tonight we celebrate victory; tomorrow we build the future.”

Highest voter turnout between generations

The students’ victory was bolstered by high voter turnout. Long queues were seen at polling stations across Serbian cities from early morning. Vucic himself had to wait nearly two hours to cast his ballot in Belgrade.

Polling organisations and the election commission estimated turnout at close to 70 per cent, the highest since the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992.

“[The turnout] does not surprise me, because over the past two years a large and strong mass movement has taken shape,” said voter Katarina Petrovic.

Vucic had previously resigned during his second presidential term to run for prime minister again. As an incumbent with substantial influence over Serbian politics, his defeat and swift concession had initially seemed difficult for some supporters of the student movement to imagine.

Vucic’s supporters have praised his efforts to modernise Serbia’s economy. Under his leadership, the government also built infrastructure including motorways, railway lines, schools and hospitals.

Nevertheless, Vucic sought to show that his party remained united despite its defeat.

“Some businesspeople, some people will leave us, but our structure is solid. We are very united, very strong, and we are used to being in opposition,” he said.

Future of the new government remains unclear

Although the student movement defeated Vucic’s camp, the make-up of the government it will form remains uncertain.

Its candidate list contained 250 names, most of them not widely known to the public. They include university professors, actors and farmers.

The list is headed by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, but it is not yet clear who will become prime minister.

The movement’s main domestic priorities include tackling corruption and improving the education system. Some political analysts expect the new government to replace figures close to Vucic in the police, security services and ministries.

However, the students have revealed little about the direction of Serbia’s foreign policy.

The incoming government will have to balance relations with China, a major investor in Serbia; Russia, a traditional ally and key natural gas supplier; and the European Union, the country’s largest trading partner.

Vucic faced the same challenge for years as he sought to maintain relations with international powers that have competing interests in Serbia.

Student protests put pressure on Vucic’s government

The student-led protest movement began on a small scale after the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapsed. It grew into the biggest wave of demonstrations in a generation, with protesters demanding Vucic leave power.

Human rights groups and activists said the authorities’ repression of opponents worsened during this period.

“For years, people have been waiting for this moment, for something that can bring hope that we can live freely and according to democratic rules,” said 48-year-old actress Jelena Stupljanin after voting at a polling station in Belgrade.

Vucic and the SNS have repeatedly denied allegations of repression, corruption and spying on political opponents. Vucic also accused the student movement of receiving funding from foreign agents in Croatia and Montenegro. The students denied the allegation.

Celebrations in Belgrade continued late into the night. A traditional brass band played as a group of people released balloons shaped like the number three, representing the student candidates’ position on the ballot.

A student named Andjela, celebrating with friends, said she was overjoyed by the result.

“We’re going to drink beer to celebrate; we’ll get drunk. We’re so happy. I have no words to describe how happy we are,” she said.