Vucic Concedes Serbia's Election
Aleksandar Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, conceded a snap parliamentary election to the Student List, a movement that grew out of nearly two years of protests, saying it would win a majority of the 250 seats.
Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in Serbia's snap parliamentary election, saying the Student List had won. Citing a statistical sample, he said the student-led list would have between 135 and 140 of the 250 seats and his own list about 105. The Republic Electoral Commission had published only early partial results, and a projection by the polling agency Ipsos and the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), from 80.8% of its sample, gave the Student List 52.7% and 140 seats and Vucic's list 38.9% and 104 seats.
The Student List grew out of protests that began after a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024, killing 16 people. Organizers say the movement is about accountability, corruption and public safety; the government has rejected the corruption allegations. Ipsos and CeSID estimated turnout at 69.7%, which Ipsos called a record.
Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party has run Serbia since 2012. He stepped down as president to run for prime minister after calling the election last month. He blamed the loss on independent media and alleged interference from unnamed European countries and the "American deep state." Serbia is a candidate to join the European Union and has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia.
Belgrade, Serbia — Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in Serbia's snap parliamentary election, saying a student-led movement that spent nearly two years protesting against his government had won a majority.
The concession
"Based on the stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost the election," Vucic said at the headquarters of his Serbian Progressive Party. He said the Student List would have between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-seat parliament and his list about 105. By his count, the Student List received about 2.2 million votes and his list about 1.72 million. He said a party representing Vojvodina's Hungarians had won three seats and that other small lists might also get in. "We do not have the final results," he said.
Crowds celebrated in the streets of Belgrade and other cities after he spoke. Ipsos and CeSID estimated turnout at 69.7% of 6.45 million registered voters. Official results have not been released. Ipsos and CeSID's projection, based on 80.8% of their sample, put the Student List at 52.7% and 140 seats and Vucic's list at 38.9% and 104, with no other major list clearing the threshold. Montenegro's prime minister, Milojko Spajic, and Hungary's prime minister, Peter Magyar, congratulated the Student List.
Vucic blamed Serbia's independent media for the result and alleged interference from unnamed European countries and what he called the "American deep state."
The movement
The protests began after the concrete canopy of the railway station in Novi Sad collapsed in 2024, killing 16 people. University students staged blockades and marches demanding accountability, and teachers, farmers and others joined them. Protesters say corruption and political patronage undermined public safety; the authorities have rejected those allegations. The Student List was formed from that movement and was not set up as a conventional party.
Vucic's years in power
The Serbian Progressive Party won parliamentary elections in 2012 and has dominated politics since. Vucic became prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017. His second and final presidential term was due to end in May 2027; he stepped down as president to run for prime minister after calling the snap election last month. Critics have accused him of concentrating power and weakening independent media, which he and his party deny.
Europe, Russia and the United States
Serbia is a candidate for membership in the European Union, though its talks have been held back by concerns about democratic standards and the rule of law. Vucic kept close ties with Russia and refused to join Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. The result comes six months after Peter Magyar defeated Vucic's ally Viktor Orban in neighboring Hungary.