Serbia's student movement defeats longtime leader Vučić, ruling party

Serbia's student-led movement has triumphed over the long-standing rule of Aleksandar Vučić, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape. In a historic snap parliamentary election, the student-backed organization, known as the Student List, emerged victorious, securing 52.54 percent of the vote compared to Vučić's SNS party's 39.29 percent.

The student movement, which came into existence following a protest sparked by government corruption and negligence, is projected to hold between 135 and 140 seats in the parliament, a substantial increase from the SNS's 105 seats.

The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) officially announced these results, signaling a decisive win for the student-led group. Vučić, who had been the President of Serbia from 2017 to 2026, conceded defeat, stating, "It is clear we have lost these elections." The foreign ministry of Russia, a nation with which Serbia has historically maintained strong ties, expressed its hope for the new government to continue the positive cooperation established over the years.

The election results have garnered congratulations from various world leaders, including Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Hungarian PM Péter Magyar, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and others, highlighting the international recognition of Serbia's democratic progress.