Mr Vucic has been a dominant figure in Serbian politics since 2012, and has ruled as either President or Prime Minister since 2014.

But he was forced to call a snap parliamentary election after almost two years of protests against perceived corruption and authoritarianism, triggered by the deaths of 16 people when a train station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in 2024.

Moments after he conceded, thousands of young people flooded Belgrade’s streets, lighting flares and setting fires in celebration.

The youth-led movement ran in the parliamentary elections under the name Student List – Students Are Winning.

The victory came as a series of riots, which began as youth protests in Paris, swept Europe.

Movements across the continent may look to the Student List as a model for crystallising unrest into meaningful power.

Despite its name, the movement’s candidates are academics, professionals, and public figures, selected by student plenums.

The anti-corruption movement has no direct leader, but its lead candidate was Ilija Srdanovic, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad who publicly supported student demonstrations.

Mr Vucic said he expected the students to hold between 135 and 140 seats of the 250-seat parliament at the final count, while his SNS would hold 105, based on early results.

Student List candidate Radomir Sajcic, a professor at Belgrade University, said: “Tonight the voice of the people is being heard.

“Tonight we celebrate victory, tomorrow we build the future.”

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, quickly congratulated the students on their victory.

While Serbia is not a member of the EU, she said the bloc was ready to “support reforms on the rule of law, media freedom, the fight against corruption and strong democratic institutions”.

Trams and traffic on Belgrade’s streets came to a complete stop after the concession as students joined in celebration.

Milica, a law student, told Reuters it was the “best thing that happened in my life”.

Another young person, waving a flag in joy, said Serbia had “defeated a dictator!”

Dejan Soskic, a former central bank governor and a candidate of the Student List, urged supporters to maintain order and peace during the jubilation.

The group of inexperienced candidates will soon be tasked with fulfilling the students’ anti-corruption agenda.

The Student List’s manifesto urges Government transparency, purging officials who broke rules while cracking down on protesters, the release of media from party control, and banning party loyalists from leading public sector enterprises.

Questions will now rise over the ability of the inexperienced politicians to lead both domestically and on the world stage.

Radivoje Grujic, a Warsaw-based election consultant, told Reuters: “The biggest uncertainty is…who is going to lead the government, who will be the key ministers, and how they will operate based on the promises they made to fight corruption, to reintroduce the rule of law, but also to re-establish Serbia’s position in foreign policy.”

Serbia’s Streets Erupt After Conservative Leader Aleksandar Vučić Concedes to Student List

Serbia has entered a new chapter in its political history after long-serving leader Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in a parliamentary election against the student-backed opposition movement known as the Student List.

Celebrations broke out across Belgrade and other Serbian cities after the announcement, with crowds gathering in public squares, cars sounding their horns and supporters embracing one another in the streets.

For many demonstrators, the result represented the culmination of nearly two years of protests demanding accountability, action against corruption and changes to the country’s political institutions.

The election, held on October 25, 2026, delivered a major setback to the Serbian Progressive Party, which had dominated national politics for years. Preliminary estimates suggested that the Student List could secure approximately 138 to 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, potentially giving the movement a governing majority.

Vučić acknowledged the defeat before the final results had been confirmed, saying the early figures made it clear that his political alliance had lost.

The announcement transformed an already tense election night into a moment of celebration for thousands of opposition supporters.

However, the result also raises an important question: can a movement built around student protests and demands for reform successfully govern a country that has been dominated by the same political network for more than a decade?

Celebrations Sweep Across Serbia

The atmosphere in Belgrade changed dramatically as news of the result spread.

Supporters poured into central streets, waving Serbian flags, chanting slogans and celebrating what they viewed as a historic political turning point.

Fireworks illuminated parts of the capital, while crowds gathered around prominent public spaces and the headquarters of the Student List.

Some people described the result as an opportunity for Serbia to move towards a political system with greater accountability and stronger democratic institutions.

The celebrations were not limited to the capital. Crowds also gathered in other cities, including Novi Sad, where the tragedy that helped ignite the protest movement occurred.

For many participants, the election was about more than replacing one political party with another.

It was an expression of frustration that had accumulated over years of arguments about corruption, government transparency, media independence and the relationship between political power and public institutions.

The turnout was also striking. Preliminary estimates from election monitors put participation at around 70 per cent, among the highest levels recorded in Serbia since the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The figures suggested that a substantial number of voters had decided the election was an opportunity to influence the country’s direction.

Nevertheless, celebrations alone will not resolve Serbia’s political divisions. Many citizens continue to support Vučić’s party, and the incoming parliamentary majority will need to demonstrate that it can represent people beyond its own electoral base.

The Tragedy That Sparked a National Movement

The roots of the political upheaval can be traced to November 2024, when a concrete canopy collapsed at the railway station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people.

The disaster prompted widespread public anger and demands for answers about the construction work, oversight and responsibility for the tragedy.

Students began organising demonstrations and university blockades, insisting that the authorities provide transparency and accountability.

What started as a movement connected to a specific disaster gradually expanded into a broader challenge to the government.

Protesters argued that the tragedy reflected deeper problems involving corruption, political influence and the supervision of major public projects.

They demanded that officials answer questions about the disaster and called for changes intended to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The authorities and members of the governing party rejected accusations that they were responsible for widespread wrongdoing. However, the protests continued, attracting support from people outside universities.

Academics, professionals, workers and other members of the public joined demonstrations, turning the movement into one of the most significant challenges to Vučić’s political dominance.

The student movement eventually decided to transform its campaign into electoral participation.

Rather than relying exclusively on street demonstrations, it assembled a list of candidates representing different parts of Serbian society.

That decision allowed supporters to channel their demands for change directly into the parliamentary election.

How the Student List Defeated a Long-Established Political Machine

Vučić has been one of the most influential figures in Serbian politics since 2012, serving as prime minister and president during different periods.

His Serbian Progressive Party built a substantial political organisation, maintained a powerful electoral base and exercised considerable influence over the country’s political landscape.

The Student List therefore faced an opponent with years of governing experience, established networks and extensive political resources.

Its campaign relied on a different source of support.

The movement presented itself as an alternative for voters who believed the existing system needed fundamental reform. Its candidates included academics, professionals, athletes and people from other backgrounds, rather than relying solely on familiar political figures.

The campaign emphasised the rule of law, institutional accountability and the need to investigate allegations of corruption.

This broad approach helped attract voters with different political opinions who shared dissatisfaction with the existing government.

The election results indicated that the movement had succeeded in bringing together a substantial coalition of opposition voters.

According to preliminary estimates, the Student List was on course to win around 138 seats, while Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party was projected to secure approximately 104 seats. Other seats were expected to go to minority parties.

The final distribution of seats and the formation of a new government remained important next steps.

Even so, Vučić’s concession marked a significant moment for a movement that had emerged from university protests rather than a traditional political party.

Vučić Warns Against Unrest

Although he accepted the preliminary result, Vučić also warned against violence and accused foreign actors of supporting the political movement that defeated him.

He argued that outside interests had contributed to the campaign against his political alliance. Such allegations were part of his response to the defeat, rather than independently established explanations for the election result.

The Student List and its supporters, meanwhile, presented the outcome as the product of sustained public mobilisation and voters’ desire for political change.

The contrast between these accounts reflects the depth of Serbia’s political divisions.

For the incoming parliamentary majority, the priority will be to maintain a peaceful transition and ensure that the result is respected through the country’s constitutional procedures.

Supporters of the outgoing government also have a place in Serbia’s political system, and their concerns cannot simply be dismissed.

A stable transition will require clear communication from electoral authorities, respect for the legal process and restraint from political leaders on all sides.

The challenge will be particularly important because the election has raised expectations among people who spent months demonstrating and demanding change.

Can the Student Movement Govern?

Winning an election is one challenge. Governing effectively is another.

The Student List brings together candidates from different professional and social backgrounds, but the movement has not operated as a conventional governing party with a long record of managing ministries and negotiating legislation.

Its broad coalition helped attract support during the campaign. That diversity could become more difficult to manage when the movement must make decisions about budgets, appointments, economic policy and public services.

One of its central promises is to strengthen the rule of law and address corruption.

Delivering that programme will require more than replacing senior officials. It will involve establishing transparent procedures, protecting independent investigations and ensuring that public institutions operate according to clear rules.

The new parliamentary majority will also face practical economic pressures, including public debt, employment, investment and the cost of living.

Citizens who supported the movement will expect visible improvements, while those who voted for the outgoing government will judge the new administration by its ability to maintain stability.

If the Student List cannot agree on priorities or struggles to turn promises into policy, internal disagreements could weaken its political position.

For that reason, its next decisions may be just as consequential as its election victory.

Serbia’s European Future Is Also at Stake

The political transition will attract attention beyond Serbia’s borders.

Serbia is a candidate for membership of the European Union, but its relations with Brussels have been complicated by concerns about democratic standards, the rule of law and its continued ties with Russia.

A new government could seek to improve relations with European institutions, particularly if it introduces reforms that strengthen judicial independence and public accountability.

However, a change in parliamentary leadership does not automatically settle Serbia’s foreign policy direction.

The country also maintains important economic and political relationships with Russia and China. Any incoming administration will need to decide how it intends to balance those relationships with its European ambitions.

The Student List’s diverse character means that agreement on international policy may require careful negotiation.

European officials will likely watch how the new majority approaches institutional reform, media freedom and the rule of law before judging the direction of the country’s political transition.

For Serbia, the challenge is to demonstrate that election promises can become lasting institutional changes.

A New Political Chapter Begins

Aleksandar Vučić’s concession has marked a dramatic moment in Serbian politics, bringing nationwide celebrations after years of student-led protests.

The movement’s success shows how sustained public mobilisation can develop into an electoral challenge when demonstrators find a way to organise beyond the streets.

But the election is only the beginning of the next stage.

The Student List must now demonstrate that it can form a functioning government, maintain unity among its candidates and address the concerns that brought people into the streets in the first place.

Its supporters want greater accountability and a political system in which public institutions serve citizens rather than party interests. Other voters will be watching to see whether the new leadership can deliver stability, economic progress and responsible government.

For Vučić and his allies, the defeat creates a period of political adjustment after years of influence over Serbia’s national institutions.

For the country as a whole, the immediate priority is a peaceful transfer of power and a credible process for turning the election result into a new government.

The scenes in Belgrade may be remembered as a defining moment in Serbia’s recent history. Whether they also mark the beginning of lasting political reform will depend on what happens after the celebrations end.