Vucic defeated in Serbia election as student protest movement claims historic win
The snap elections came following nearly two years of student-driven demonstrations against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism
Serbia has entered a new political era after Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat to a historic student-led protest movement in an election on Sunday, bringing an end to his long grip on power.
The streets of Belgrade erupted in celebration following Vucic's announcement, as drivers sounded their car horns and students chanted "victory" and "he's done".
The snap elections came following nearly two years of student-driven demonstrations against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism, which were triggered when a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024, killing 16 people.
"Dear Serbia, tonight the voice of the people is being heard," said Radomir Sajcic, a professor at Belgrade University speaking on behalf of the students at their headquarters. "Tonight we celebrate victory, tomorrow we build the future."
Voter turnout reached nearly 70 per cent, representing the highest participation since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992. Long queues snaked from polling stations throughout Serbian towns and cities on Sunday, reflecting a widespread desire for change.
"It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has won, they will have between 135 and 140 seats and we will have 105, no one else has entered parliament," Vucic said, basing his projection off preliminary results.
A representative sample from pollsters CESID-IPSPS showed the student candidate list winning 138 deputies, with Vucic's SNS party securing 104 seats in the 250-seat parliament. The remaining seats will be shared among ethnic national minority parties.
"Unbelievable happiness and joy and we have finally got rid of this mafia. I am so happy I cannot speak," said a woman named Tanja who was celebrating on the streets of Belgrade.