Student-Led List Tops Vucic’s Party as Aleksandar Vucic Concedes Defeat in Serbian Election

Students’ List Claims Victory

Vucic announced the outcome about an hour and a half after polls closed. Speaking to supporters, he said, “The Students' List has won,” while blaming independent media and alleged interference by unnamed European countries and an “American deep state” for his party’s loss.

Vucic said his Serbian Progressive Party, known as SNS, received around 1.7 million votes. He put the Students’ List’s total at around 2.2 million.

Protests Reshaped The Contest

The election pitted Vucic and his right-wing party against a diverse, student-led opposition movement. Students had spent two years protesting his government and built support across the country.

The leaderless movement challenged Vucic’s grip on power, which his party had held for 14 years. Its campaign promoted a non-partisan effort to rebuild Serbia’s economy and restore democracy.

Tensions And Election Concerns

High turnout and mounting tensions marked the closely contested vote. Police in anti-riot gear cordoned off an area near the election commission headquarters in central Belgrade, while special police vehicles were seen near a park where Vucic loyalists had camped for more than a year.

Large groups of black-clad men gathered at several locations in the city. Independent election monitors reported dozens of irregularities, including ballot photography that they said suggested pressure on voters and attempted vote buying.

The European Union closely monitored the election in Serbia, a candidate nation for membership. Earlier local elections in 10 municipalities had seen violent attacks on journalists and activists, while the 2023 parliamentary vote was followed by opposition protests alleging fraud.

A Result With Wider Resonance

The student victory echoed a recent defeat in Hungary for a Vucic ally. Youth participation helped oust Viktor Orbán after 16 years and usher in a new pro-European government. The Serbian result could resonate beyond the country as youth and student protests have challenged governments across Europe.