Aleksandar Vučić concedes defeat to Serbia’s student‑led movement

Vučić concedes defeat

On the evening of Sunday, October 25, 2026, President Aleksandar Vučić announced at the Serbian Progressive Party headquarters in Belgrade that the early results made it clear his party had lost the snap parliamentary election. "We still do not have final results… it is clear that we have lost these elections," he told supporters, signalling a swift acceptance of the voters’ verdict.

Student List secures a parliamentary majority

Preliminary figures released by the Republic Electoral Commission indicated a turnout of 64.9 % by 18:00 local time – the highest in more than three decades. With roughly 6.4 million registered voters, that translates to nearly 4.2 million people casting ballots, surpassing the 1993 election’s 61 % participation.

The anti‑corruption coalition known as the Student List, which fielded candidates from academia, medicine, arts and sport, is projected to claim between 135 and 140 of the 250 seats in the National Assembly. Ilija Srdanović, the list’s lead candidate, told the BBC Serbian outlet that the result would make Serbia a "free state". Radomir Saicic, another list candidate, added that students were "convincingly leading in almost all polling stations".

How the election unfolded

The snap vote was called after two years of street protests that began with the tragic collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station in 2024, which killed 16 people and became a symbol of perceived corruption and neglect. Vučić, who completed two presidential terms and was barred from a third, had hoped to return as prime minister, a role he left in 2017.

In the capital, celebrations erupted as crowds sang, honked horns and set off fireworks. A student at the rally remarked, "Serbia is free – it’s a miracle." Similar scenes were reported in Serbian diaspora communities in Ljubljana, Munich, Los Angeles and Chicago.

International reaction and next steps

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Student List, pledging support for rule‑of‑law reforms, media freedom and Serbia’s EU accession process. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar also expressed readiness to cooperate with the new parliament.

Vučić, while conceding, attributed the outcome to foreign influences, claiming it was "the validation of a revolution carried out with the direct support of various European countries and the U.S. deep state".

What lies ahead for Serbia

The election marks a decisive shift in Serbian politics, handing a largely inexperienced but reform‑oriented cohort a governing mandate. Analysts note that the smooth transfer of power, despite the high‑stakes environment, underscores the resilience of Serbia’s democratic institutions. The new parliament will now face the task of delivering on anti‑corruption pledges, restoring public trust in state media and advancing the country’s long‑standing EU integration agenda.

The coming weeks will reveal how the Student List navigates governance, while Vučić’s party prepares for opposition. For now, the record turnout and the peaceful acceptance of results signal a moment of national stability and a potential new chapter for Serbia on the international stage.