In brief
Serbia’s long‑time leader Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The youthful Student List secured 52.7% of the vote, while Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party triumphed at 39.2%. Nationwide celebrations erupted as crowds sang, danced, and lit fireworks across Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities. The movement emerged after a tragic railway station canopy collapse, rallying academics, doctors and sports figures against corruption. EU officials welcomed the peaceful transition, signalling a ready opening for Serbian accession talks. The new political landscape now centers on whether the Student List will appoint a prime minister, while presidential elections loom in December.
Belgrade’s streets filled with jubilant crowds after Aleksandar Vučić, a two‑term president barred from running, conceded defeat in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections. The result was a 52.7% vote share for the Student List, a youthful anti‑corruption coalition, versus 39.2% for Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
The Student List bloomed less than two years after a deadly canopy collapse at Novi Sad’s railway station, which killed 16 people. The tragedy galvanized students, academics, doctors and sports figures into a cross‑sectional candidacy, probing promises of anti‑corruption, open media, and public‑sector reform.
“It is clear we have lost these elections,” Vučić said, holding 1.67 million ballots to the Students’ 2.25 million. With 97% of polls counted, the decisive victory was marked by roaring cheers, music, honking cars and evening fireworks.
EU officials lauded the peaceful transfer. Commissioner Marta Kos declared a new chapter for Serbia and an open door to accession talks. The Kremlin and Hungary’s prime minister welcomed the shift, while Serbian expat communities abroad turned up in long lines to cast their votes.
The political scene now rests on choosing a prime minister for the Student List, while a caretaker speaker fills the role ahead of December’s presidential elections. In the immediate future, Serbia’s leaders face the challenge of solidifying a democratic framework and meeting EU‑style governance standards.
