Student-Led Movement Defeats Aleksandar Vucic in Serbian Elections

The Student List, a movement of experts and professionals selected by university students, won a majority in Serbia's parliamentary elections on October 25, 2026. Aleksandar Vucic, the long-serving leader and head of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), conceded defeat after the Student List secured between 135 and 140 seats, while the SNS won approximately 105.

The election followed nearly two years of protests against corruption and authoritarianism, triggered by a fatal railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad in November 2024. Vucic, who resigned the presidency in September to run for prime minister under the United Serbia list, attributed his loss to independent media and interference from European countries and an "American deep state."

The Student List received roughly 2.2 million votes compared to 1.7 million for the SNS. While independent monitors reported irregularities such as ballot photographing and vote buying, tens of thousands of supporters celebrated the victory in Belgrade. The result marks a significant political shift in Serbia, mirroring the recent defeat of Viktor Orban in Hungary and signaling a move away from the political order established in the late 1980s.