Serbian Election Sees Opposition Upset, Ending Vucic's 14-Year Rule
A student-led movement has unseated President Aleksandar Vucic's party after more than a decade in power, but the political direction remains uncertain.
Serbia's long-serving President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat on Sunday to a student-led opposition movement, marking the end of 14 years of rule by his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and signaling a significant political shift in the Western Balkans.
The election outcome, which saw the "Student List" emerge victorious, is being described as the most substantial political upheaval in the region since the ousting of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
"We do not have the final results yet, and many people will be surprised. Based on a stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections. The student-led protest list has won," Vucic stated in a national address. High turnout, reaching 69%—the highest of the century—underscored the public's engagement with the vote.
According to the CRTA Election Observation Mission, the Student List secured 52.45% of the vote, projecting them to hold 138 out of 250 seats in the National Assembly and granting them an outright majority to form a government. Vucic's party is projected to win 103 seats.
Supporters of the Student List celebrated across Serbia following the announcement. Vucic confirmed a peaceful transfer of power.
Critics and observers note that the Student List's policy platform remains largely undefined, raising concerns about Serbia's future political direction. Ana Brnabic, vice president of the SNS, described the Student List as a classical anti-establishment movement that opposed existing structures without a clear program or ideology, primarily campaigning against corruption.
"After 14 years of Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rule, people may have wanted change. That is understandable and logical. But the grim consequences of this movement in power will soon become apparent," Brnabic told Fox News Digital. She also expressed concern that the election result has left Serbia with limited political pluralism.
The protests that fueled the student movement began in 2024 following the collapse of a railway station canopy that killed 16 people, leading to demands for accountability and justice. Two years of grassroots mobilization and campaigning culminated in the Student List's electoral success.
Milos Jevtic, a professor and one of the newly elected members of parliament for the Student List, cited values such as expertise, professionalism, responsibility, solidarity, and unity as central to their victory. He also pointed to widespread public dissatisfaction and a lack of trust in both the incumbent government and traditional opposition parties as contributing factors.
Jevtic indicated that the new government's priorities would likely focus on economic stability, combating corruption, upholding the rule of law, and strengthening institutions. He added that the ultimate goal is to establish a system where institutions serve all citizens.
Regarding foreign policy, expectations suggest a degree of continuity with the Vucic administration's approach, including maintaining relations with neighboring European countries and international partners. However, Brnabic voiced apprehension about the lack of clarity on key policy questions, such as Serbia's stance on EU integration, relations with Russia and China, ties with the United States, and the country's economic and social direction.
"We have also called for Parliament and all state institutions to be constituted as soon as possible, so that the country has functioning institutions on which people can rely. We will be a strong but constructive opposition. We call on the Student List’s representatives to end the intimidation and assume the responsibility entrusted to them by the voters," Brnabic concluded.