Serbia's student movement defeats longtime leader Vučić, ruling party

Serbia's longtime leader, Aleksandar Vučić, has conceded defeat after his Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, lost to a student-led movement in snap parliamentary elections.

"It is clear we have lost these elections," said Vučić, President from 2017 to 2026. He previously served as first deputy prime minister from 2012 to 2014, and prime minister from 2014 to 2017.

Originally known as 'Students in Blockade' and registered as 'Student List' for the legislative elections, the movement is projected to have between 135 and 140 seats. The SNS will have 105.

The Republic Electoral Commission, RIK, announced that the Student List won 52.54 percent of the vote, while United Serbia, led by the SNS, secured 39.29 percent.

The youth-backed organisation emerged in November 2024 during a grassroots protest in response to a railway station disaster attributed to government corruption and negligence.

On Monday, Russia reacted to the defeat of Vučić, who maintained close relations with Moscow and refused to join Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry described Serbia as "a traditionally friendly nation," with which Russia has maintained political, economic, cultural, historical, and humanitarian ties.

Moscow expects the new government to "preserve the positive momentum built up over the years and continue to pursue a policy of developing mutually beneficial and equal cooperation."

The Student List has received congratulatory messages from Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Hungarian PM Péter Magyar, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President António Costa, and Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, Council of Europe's Secretary General Alain Berset, Montenegrin PM Milojko Spajić and President Jakov Milatović, and Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan have also congratulated the new Serbian leadership.

Serbia's student movement defeats longtime leader Vučić, ruling party