Serbia election: Vucic concedes defeat to student-led movement

Serbia's longtime leader, strongman Aleksandar Vucic, conceded defeat to a student-led movement in the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday in what represents a seismic political shift.

High turnout and growing tension marked a hotly contested parliamentary election that was a showdown between the Balkan country's longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic and a diverse movement of university students who have led protests against him for almost two years.

The result brings an end to more than a decade of rule by longtime leader and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Pre-election polls had suggested a tight race between the SNS and the newly formed, youth-backed Students' List, which emerged from a mass student protest movement.

What is Serbia's student protest movement

The protests were sparked by the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in the city of Novi ‌Sad in 2024.

The disaster killed 16 people and stirred widespread anger over alleged corruption, poor construction standards and a lack of accountability for public infrastructure projects. Protesters accused the government of allowing corruption and political patronage to undermine public safety, allegations the authorities have rejected.

Demonstrations demanding accountability have since snowballed into Serbia's largest movement since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. 

The scandals that rocked Serbia and are shaping the election

What began with university students staging blockades and marches soon drew support from teachers, farmers and other sections of Serbian society, turning a demand for justice over the disaster into a broader challenge to Vucic's grip on power.

Vucic faces tough election challenge

SNS won parliamentary elections in 2012 and has dominated Serbian politics ever since. Vucic himself first came to power as prime minister in 2014 before becoming president in 2017.

After calling snap elections last month, Vucic stepped down as president to run for prime minister.

His second presidential term was due to expire in May 2027, and Serbia's constitution prevents him from serving a third term.

Critics have accused him of concentrating power, undermining independent media and weakening democratic institutions. He and his party deny the allegations.

The student movement has sought to channel the energy of the street protests into an electoral challenge, presenting itself as an alternative to both the ruling party and Serbia's established opposition.

Highest voter turnout

By 1 p.m. (1200 GMT), 41.1% of eligible voters had cast their ballots, up from 26.6% at the same stage in the December 2023 parliamentary election, according to independent election monitor CRTA.

And then by 6:00 p.m. (1700 GMT), two hours before polls were set to close, "64.89 percent out of the total" voters had cast their ballots, Serbia's Statistics Office director Branko Josipovic said in a press conference.

After voting at a kindergarten on the outskirts of Belgrade, Vucic said he hoped the election would proceed smoothly.

"We will heed the democratic will of the citizens. You can win or lose an election. Either way, we will act responsibly," said Vucic, who is seeking to become prime minister.

Cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic heads the Students' List but is neither the movement's leader nor its designated candidate for prime minister.

"I hope that today will pass in a democratic atmosphere, in peace, and that we will legitimately elect a new government in Serbia," he said after casting his ballot in Novi Sad.

The election is being closely watched in Europe. Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership, but its accession process has been hampered by concerns over democratic standards and the rule of law.

Vucic has also maintained close ties with Russia and refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

The vote comes six months after Peter Magyar's victory in Hungary , when he defeated Vucic's ally, Viktor Orban.

Polling stations close at 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). 

Serbia's student revolt: Will it bring about change?

Edited by: Natalie Muller

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