Serbia election, USA News (Belgrade): Serbia’s streets have erupted after its long-standing conservative leader conceded the election to a student-led movement. Aleksandar Vučić, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), admitted it was clear that his party had lost these elections.
Mr. Vučić has been a dominant figure in Serbian politics since 2012, serving as either President or Prime Minister since 2014. He was forced to call a snap parliamentary election following nearly two years of protests against perceived corruption and authoritarianism, which were initially triggered by the deaths of 16 people when a train station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in 2024.
Celebrations Erupt in Belgrade
Moments after the concession, thousands of young people flooded Belgrade’s streets, lighting flares and setting fires in celebration. Trams and traffic came to a complete stop as students joined in the jubilation. Milica, a law student, described the moment to Reuters as the best thing that happened in her life, while another participant stated that Serbia had defeated a dictator.
The youth-led movement ran in the parliamentary elections under the name Student List – Students Are Winning. Despite its name, the movement’s candidates are academics, professionals, and public figures selected by student plenums. The anti-corruption movement has no direct leader, but its lead candidate was Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad.
Parliamentary Breakdown and Future Agenda
Based on early results, Mr. Vučić stated he expected the students to hold between 135 and 140 seats of the 250-seat parliament at the final count, while his SNS party would hold 105 seats. Student List candidate Radomir Sajcic, a professor at Belgrade University, told supporters that the voice of the people was being heard and that they would build the future.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, congratulated the students on their victory, noting that the bloc is ready to support reforms concerning the rule of law, media freedom, the fight against corruption, and democratic institutions, even though Serbia is not an EU member.
Dejan Soskic, a former central bank governor and a candidate of the Student List, urged supporters to maintain order and peace during the celebrations. The incoming inexperienced candidates will now face the task of fulfilling an anti-corruption agenda that calls for government transparency, purging rule-breaking officials, releasing media from party control, and removing party loyalists from public sector enterprises.
