Serbia’s Vucic Concedes Defeat to Student-Led Movement After 14 Years in Power

Serbia’s long-serving leader Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat Sunday in a parliamentary election that pitted him and his right-wing party against a student-led opposition movement that had spent two years protesting his government.

The result marks a seismic political shift in the Balkan nation, where Vucic, who was endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, ruled with virtually absolute power for 14 years. Vucic had denounced the student movement as a foreign-led attempt to unseat him.

Serbia’s 6.4 million voters were electing lawmakers to the 250-member Parliament. Vucic said his party projects the youth-backed Students’ List will win between 135 and 140 seats, while his Serbian Progressive Party, known as SNS, will hold around 105. He said SNS won roughly 1.7 million votes compared to about 2.2 million for the Students’ List.

“It is now clear that we have lost and the Students’ List has won,” Vucic told supporters, though he blamed Serbia’s independent media, alleged interference by unnamed European countries and an “American deep state” for the loss.

Crowds quickly flooded the streets of Belgrade and other cities in euphoric celebration. Supporters drove through the capital honking horns and chanting, “Aleksandar is gone.” Crowds dismantled fences and tents at a central Belgrade park where Vucic loyalists had camped for more than a year, and one tent was later set on fire. A group of young people was seen throwing rocks at a withdrawing column of police cars and anti-riot vehicles.

“We are all too happy, finally we are becoming one normal and free country,” said Belgrade resident Dragana Kovacevic.

Students’ List candidate Radomir Saicic called the outcome “a victory over fear,” adding, “But victory carries responsibility.”

Tensions had built throughout the day. Police in riot gear cordoned off an area around the election commission headquarters, and large groups of black-clad men gathered at points across the city.

Vucic, who resigned the presidency last month to lead the campaign, was seeking to become prime minister after two near-full terms as president.

His support had eroded after 16 people were killed in 2024 when a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad. The disaster sparked youth protests blaming high-level corruption, cronyism and graft during renovation work. Dijana Hrka, whose child was among the victims, told N1 television she had been waiting two years for this moment and expects those responsible to be held accountable.

Still, Vucic retained considerable support, with admirers viewing him as a capable leader in uncertain times.

The leaderless student movement put forward no students as candidates, instead fielding little-known experts, athletes, farmers and artists. Its campaign focused on a nonpartisan effort to rebuild Serbia’s economy and restore democracy, with students cycling and walking to reach rural voters in Vucic strongholds.

The outcome echoes the recent defeat of Vucic ally Viktor Orbán in Hungary after 16 years.

Monitors predicted turnout could reach around 70%, a level unseen in Serbia since 2000. The EU closely watched the vote in the membership candidate nation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the movement and pledged support for reforms.

Independent monitors reported dozens of irregularities, including ballot photographing and attempted vote buying, after a campaign marked by detentions, near-total government media control and reported surveillance of activists.