Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia’s former president and its dominant political figure for more than a decade, conceded defeat after polling stations closed on October 25. Citing preliminary figures, he said the Student List was on course for 135 to 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, compared with 105 for his Serbian Progressive Party. Radio Svoboda reported the development on Monday, October 26.

More than 2,400 candidates representing 18 political groups contested the election, but the campaign was largely a two-way race. Independent observers said participation could approach 70 percent, potentially making it Serbia’s highest turnout in decades, while celebrations were reported in Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities.

The student-led movement grew out of months of demonstrations triggered by the November 2024 collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Its electoral slate includes academics, technocrats and public figures rather than mainly student activists. Movement leader Ilija Srdanovic pledged to begin building a state grounded in the rule of law on October 26.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the preliminary outcome and offered support for reforms. Although the result could strengthen Serbia’s path toward the European Union, the incoming majority’s position on Russia and sanctions against Moscow has not yet been established.