Kremlin hopes Vučić will sustain Russia ties after Serbia election defeat

Russian officials are optimistic that former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will continue to bolster ties with Russia despite his party's electoral defeat, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Peskov stated that Vučić will remain active in politics and hopes his opposition role will further develop bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia.

The Kremlin also expressed hope that Serbia's new political leadership would maintain the "constructive cooperation" with Russia, emphasizing that such cooperation benefits Serbia above all.

Former Serbian President Vučić announced his resignation from the presidency on September 27, 2024, after holding the position since 2017. On October 25, snap parliamentary elections were held in Serbia. According to projections by the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) and Ipsos polling firm, the Student List secured 52.9% of the vote, while Vučić's United Serbia received 38.8%.

In a post-election statement, Vučić said the Student List would secure between 135 and 140 seats, while his party would win 105 seats, with no other party making it into parliament.

The snap elections were called by Vučić in September, following a period of student protests against corruption and growing authoritarianism. These protests began after 16 people died in a railway station collapse in Novi Sad in 2024, which many saw as a clear case of corruption and negligence linked to Vučić's involvement in the project.