Serbian Leader Vučić Admits Defeat After 12 Years in Power

Serbian populist leader Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in parliamentary elections on Sunday, acknowledging that his ruling party had lost its majority after 12 years in power. Speaking to supporters about an hour and a half after polls closed, Vučić estimated that the "Students' List" party, formed in the wake of massive protests, would win at least 135 of the 250 parliamentary seats and form the next government.

Vučić, 56, has led Serbia since 2012, first as prime minister and then as president since 2017. After being barred from a third presidential term, he resigned last month and called snap elections, running again for prime minister. His rule was marked by economic growth and infrastructure development, but also by opposition accusations of democratic suppression, media control, and widespread corruption.

A turning point came in November 2024 with a deadly concrete roof collapse at a Novi Sad train station, killing 16 people. Many linked the disaster to corruption in government infrastructure projects, sparking large student-led protests that gave rise to the new opposition party, "Students' List." This list, composed of medical experts, actors, and farmers rather than traditional politicians, has pledged to fight corruption and free state institutions from political influence. The list is headed by cardiologist Ilija Đurđević, though the prime ministerial candidate remains unclear.

The election saw an unprecedented voter turnout of 64.9%, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia, signaling a strong desire for change despite warnings from monitoring organizations like CRTA about irregularities and vote-buying attempts.

Israel is expected to closely monitor the political shift. Vučić has been a strong supporter of Israel, announcing a joint drone production project in April. It remains to be seen what foreign policy the "Students' List" will pursue, as the party has so far focused on domestic rule of law reforms.