An electoral list backed by Serbia's student movement achieved a decisive victory in the snap parliamentary election on Sunday, ending over a decade of dominance by Aleksandar Vučić and his party.
Initial projections, reported by Reuters, indicate that the student-backed list will secure between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-seat parliament. Aleksandar Vučić, the former president who was seeking to return as prime minister, conceded defeat and congratulated his rivals.
The "United Serbia" coalition, led by Vučić, came in second place with approximately 38.8% of the vote and 103 seats. These results mark a major political shift in Serbia, which has been dominated by Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party since 2012.
The snap election was called after nearly two years of widespread student-led protests. The protests were initially sparked by the collapse of a train station canopy in the city of Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, an event that killed 16 people. Protesters demanded accountability from officials and a serious fight against corruption, allegations that Vučić's government has consistently denied.
The student movement, which emerged from street protests, quickly garnered oad support from various sectors of society, including university professors, lawyers, and artists. Following the announcement of the results, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade, the capital, to celeate the victory.
Voter turnout was reported to be nearly 70%, one of the highest rates since the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1992. Despite the victory, the movement has not yet officially named its candidate for prime minister. Ilija Srdanović, a university professor who topped the movement's list, is considered a leading figure.
Source: Reuters
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