Serbia Votes: Students Take Lead, Vucic Admits Parliamentary Loss
Belgrade, October 26: Aleksandar Vucic conceded on Sunday that he had lost Serbia's parliamentary election, as early figures pointed to a majority for a coalition formed by students who emerged from anti-corruption protests.
The Student List took about 52 percent of the vote in early projections, far ahead of the 39.3 percent recorded by Vucic's alliance, United Serbia. The estimates were released by polling organisations.
Vucic, who resigned as president on September 27 in order to pursue a return to power through parliament, addressed supporters at his party's Belgrade headquarters. Based on preliminary results, he said, the Serbian Progressive Party had been defeated. He forecast that the student-backed list would win 135 to 140 seats out of 250, while his party would receive roughly 105.
He also estimated that the student list had secured around 2.2 million votes, compared with about 1.72 million for his own alliance.
At the Student List headquarters in Belgrade, supporters began celebrating. Radomir Saichic, a professor at the University of Belgrade and a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, said the result was historic for ordinary citizens.
Saichic said early results showed his list leading in every polling station. "Today the people's voice has been heard," he said. He framed the win as one over fear and apathy, and as proof that Serbia's direction can change. He added that the achievement belonged to everyone who took part.
He called for the public verdict to be respected at all times and urged supporters to celebrate peacefully. He told citizens not to respond to provocation or get drawn into disputes.
Sunday's vote determined all 250 seats in the single-chamber parliament, where 126 seats make a majority. Some 6.45 million citizens were eligible to vote at 8,392 polling stations, and 18 lists of parties and coalitions contested the election. Polling stations closed at 8 pm local time, though people already in line were allowed to vote.
The outcome represents a clear break in Serbian politics, where Vucic and his party have held sway since 2012. Vucic's resignation means a new president must be elected before December ends.
The political upheaval began in November 2024, when a concrete canopy fell at the Novi Sad railway station and 16 people died. Students responded with protests that gradually grew into a nationwide challenge to the government, raising concerns about construction negligence, corruption and the absence of accountability.
Over time, the movement won backing from beyond the student community. Its candidate list for all 250 parliamentary seats included educators, athletes and farmers. The campaign pledged to tackle corruption, improve the economy and strengthen democratic institutions.
In conceding, Vucic said he had chosen to announce projected results before official figures to remove uncertainty for supporters and to disprove suggestions that he would refuse to accept defeat. He blamed foreign support for the protests for the likely loss and described the outcome as confirmation of a revolution.
Vucic thanked his supporters and vowed that his movement would stay united and continue its work in opposition.
The projections reflect the SNS's biggest electoral setback since 2012 and give the student-led movement the possibility of an independent parliamentary majority.