Student List Wins Absolute Majority in Serbia, Ending Vucic Era

The Student List has secured an absolute majority in Serbia’s parliament, ending the 12-year political dominance of Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). In a historic shift for the Balkan nation, the anti-corruption movement led by students won approximately 52.6% of the vote, translating to roughly 140 of the 250 seats Source: Infobae. Vučić publicly conceded defeat on Sunday night, stating that stratified samples made it "clear that we have lost these elections" Source: El Tiempo.

The Catalyst

The uprising was ignited in November 2024 by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Protesters attributed the disaster to systemic corruption and negligence, sparking two years of continuous demonstrations Source: ABC. The movement transformed from street protests into a political force, presenting 250 candidates from diverse civil society backgrounds—including doctors, academics, and athletes—rather than traditional career politicians Source: El Nacional.

Electoral Results

The election saw record-breaking turnout, with nearly 68.8% of eligible voters participating, significantly higher than the 55% in 2023 Source: Infobae. This high mobilization favored the opposition. Key outcomes include:

• Student List: ~52.6% of votes; estimated 140 seats.
• SNS (Vučić): ~39.2% of votes; estimated 103–105 seats.
• Other Parties: No other domestic party surpassed the 3% threshold; only ethnic minority parties entered parliament Source: Euronews.

Reactions and Implications

Celebrations erupted across Belgrade and Novi Sad, with citizens chanting "Serbia is free" Source: El Nacional. While Vučić acknowledged the loss, he warned his supporters that his party would "fight" and suggested foreign interference influenced the result Source: ABC. Internationally, China expressed readiness to maintain bilateral relations with the new government, respecting Serbia’s sovereign choice Source: Infobae. Analysts note that while the Student List seeks internal democratic reforms, its stance on rapid EU integration remains cautious, focusing first on domestic rule-of-law improvements Source: Euronews.