Student movement wins Serbia’s parliamentary elections

The Student List, a Serbian opposition movement that emerged amid a wave of anti-government protests, has won the country’s snap parliamentary elections. Former President Aleksandar Vučić has acknowledged his party’s defeat, Reuters reported.

After the preliminary results were announced, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade to celebrate the victory. Approximately 2.2 million people voted for the student movement, compared with 1.72 million for Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Voter turnout reached nearly 70%.

How students entered politics

The student movement is projected to secure between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-seat parliament, while the SNS is expected to win around 105 seats.

Mass protests erupted in Serbia following the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, an incident that killed 16 people. Students accused the authorities of corruption and demanded that those responsible be held accountable. Educators, farmers, and workers later joined the demonstrations.

On many occasions, the protests escalated into clashes with police. Amid the political crisis, Vučić announced in June 2026 that he would step down as president and officially resigned on Sept. 27.

Vučić had hoped to return to power as prime minister, but doing so would have required his party to secure a parliamentary majority.

Ahead of the elections, the student movement had formed its own electoral list, which included academics, athletes and public figures. Cardiologist Ilija Srdanović headed the list.