Serbian PM Vučić Concedes Defeat to Student-Led Movement After a Decade

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged his party's defeat in legislative elections on Sunday evening, ending over a decade of his political dominance. The winning list emerged from a broad student protest movement that has been active in the country for nearly two years. Initial estimates, as reported by Vučić, suggest the student-backed list could secure between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-seat Parliament, compared to approximately 105 for his own party. Vučić, who had stepped down as president to pursue the prime ministerial role, stated he would not contest the results, though his concession speech was notably combative. He accused opponents of being "subcontractors" for foreign interests aiming to destabilize Serbia and harshly criticized independent media outlets N1 and Nova S, calling them "scum" while vowing to "fight."

The announcement of defeat sparked celebrations at the student list's headquarters. This diverse coalition includes academics, artists, farmers, and individuals with no prior political experience. Its origins trace back to protests following a deadly incident in November 2024, when a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. This tragedy amplified existing accusations of corruption and institutional failures.

Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor of medicine, is at the forefront of the student list, although a formal candidate for prime minister has not yet been designated. Several major opposition parties opted not to field their own candidates, instead urging their supporters to back the student movement.

The election took place amid a tense atmosphere and notably high voter turnout, with 67.6% of registered voters having cast ballots by 8 p.m. However, the independent organization CRTA reported incidents and irregularities at several polling stations.

Vučić's defeat may also impact Serbia's relationship with Israel. The outgoing prime minister was considered a strong European ally of Israel, during whose tenure Serbia significantly increased its ammunition exports to the Jewish state and developed defense cooperation. The new list's stance on Israel is less clear; Srdanović has indicated foreign policy will prioritize "the interests of Serbian citizens," while some student movement members participated in protests in 2025 against arms exports to Israel. This political shift ushers in a period of uncertainty for Serbia as the student movement faces the challenge of translating street mobilization into a parliamentary majority and forming a government.