Susanna Riva The Serbian political landscape changed radically on the night of October 25, 2026. After fourteen years of almost unconditional rule, Aleksandar Vučić declared live on national television that his party, United Serbia , had lost the parliamentary elections. The news, broadcast by the public broadcaster RTS, sparked a flurry of reactions, but above all, a spontaneous celebration in the streets of Belgrade, where thousands of young people and citizens honked their horns and set off fireworks.
The election result and Vučić's defeat
According to initial projections from Ipsos/CeSid, the Student List won 52,0% of the vote, securing 138 of the 250 seats and far exceeding the absolute majority threshold (126 seats). Vučić 's party , on the other hand, only received 39,3% of the vote, translating into 104 seats.
No other political group managed to break the 3% barrier, with the exception of minority ethnic lists exempt from the limit. Voter turnout was historic: 67,6% of eligible voters cast their ballots, according to CeSid/Ipsos, a figure unmatched in the last thirty years.
The numbers indicate a decisive turning point. The Student List has transformed what began as a protest movement into a political formation capable of winning a parliamentary majority.
With a program focused on fighting corruption and institutional reform, the group, composed mostly of academics and artists with no previous political experience, was able to channel the popular discontent that arose after the Novi Sad tragedy of 2024.
Student protests and the context of change
The collapse of the bus shelter at the Novi Sad train station, which killed sixteen people, triggered a series of demonstrations that lasted nearly two years. The protests, initially focused on demands for accountability for widespread corruption , evolved into a full-blown anti-government movement. Faced with growing internal pressure, Vučić called early elections , arguing that "the turbulence in the domestic political scene" required a swift response.
The squares of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and other cities filled with protesters demanding transparency, justice, and a future free from elite influence. When the polls closed, the result confirmed the strength of the movement: the Student List transformed the enthusiasm of a protest into a vote of confidence, demonstrating that the desire for change was deeply rooted in Serbian society.
National and international reactions
The celebrations also resonated beyond the country's borders. European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos , called the Student List's victory "a result in line with the values of the European Union" and emphasized that "the door to the EU is open to Serbia, ready to continue its integration journey." The statement hinted at a possible acceleration of the accession process, an opportunity the new Parliament has already placed at the center of its agenda.
Within the country, the news sparked mixed feelings. While thousands chanted "The students have won!" and set off fireworks, others expressed fear: memories of the resistance to power following Slobodan Milosevic's defeat in 2000 were evoked, with some fearing the transition could face the same difficulties as then. Furthermore, incidents of violence in voting lines emerged: journalists were attacked in Vranje, motorcyclists injured in Ruma, and young people were intimidated in Pančevo. These reports, international observers described as worrying and likely to affect perceptions of the new leadership.
The night of October 25 marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for Serbia. With Vučić promising to "fight from the opposition" and the Student List preparing to lead the country, Serbia's political future appears uncertain but full of hope. The coming months will be crucial to determine whether the promises of a more transparent and integrated society within the European Union can be translated into practical implementation, or whether the tensions lurking during the holidays will translate into new challenges.