Belgrade, October 26 (TNA) Serbia has witnessed a major political upheaval after a student-led movement defeated the long-ruling Serbian Progressive Party in the country’s parliamentary elections. The development ends Aleksandar Vučić’s party’s 14-year dominance of Serbian politics.
Vučić conceded defeat on Sunday, acknowledging that the student-backed “Student List” had won the election. He said the movement could secure between 135 and 140 seats, while his party was expected to win around 105 seats, according to preliminary figures.
Protests led to political change
The election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations against alleged corruption and growing authoritarianism. The protests began after the collapse of a canopy at the railway station in Novi Sad in 2024, a disaster that killed 16 people and triggered widespread public anger.
The student movement accused the government of failing to ensure accountability and transparency in the incident. Vučić and his allies denied the allegations and described the protests as an attempt, allegedly supported from abroad, to remove the government.
End of a long political era
The result marks one of the most significant political shifts in Serbia in recent years. Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party had dominated national politics since 2012, with the president maintaining a powerful influence over the country’s political system.
The student movement’s victory has opened the way for a new political formation in Serbia. Its immediate priorities are expected to include fighting corruption, strengthening institutions and investigating the Novi Sad railway station tragedy.
Wider significance
The outcome is being closely watched across the Balkans and Europe because it could reshape Serbia’s domestic and foreign policy. Analysts say the result reflects growing public dissatisfaction with the concentration of power and the government’s handling of corruption allegations.
The formation of the next government will now be the key challenge for the student-backed movement, which emerged from protests rather than a traditional political party. Its ability to build a stable parliamentary majority and translate its campaign promises into governance will determine the durability of the political change.