Serbia’s Parliament to meet on Nov. 17 after student-led movement won election over strongman Vucic

Belgrade, Serbia (AP) — The inaugural session of Serbia's new Parliament, set to be dominated by a student-led movement after its election win last month, is scheduled for November 17, announced outgoing parliament speaker Ana Brnabic on Sunday.

The Students' List secured 140 seats in the 250-member assembly, while the Serbian Progressive Party claimed 103 seats, according to the final election results released last week. The remaining seats will be distributed among parties representing Serbia's ethnic minorities.

The student-led movement orchestrated two years of street protests against former President Aleksandar Vucic, culminating in his ousting from power following the Oct. 25 election. The protests were sparked by the collapse of a train station canopy in November 2024, killing 16 people, which many Serbs blamed on corruption in state infrastructure projects.

The Students' List candidates primarily comprised professors, teachers, and experts from various fields, with minimal political experience, who will now occupy parliamentary seats. The group pledged to restore the rule of law and combat corruption, which they claimed proliferated under Vucic's leadership.

The new Parliament will first elect a speaker and other parliamentary bodies, followed by the formation of a new government within 90 days. Serbia must also hold an early presidential election by year-end, as Vucic resigned from the post on September 27 in an unsuccessful bid to become the next prime minister.

While election winners have yet to assume office, the shift in power dynamics has triggered a series of detentions linked to alleged election fraud, attacks on student protesters, and corruption cases. Vucic has accused his opponents of a "revolutionary terror," despite his right-wing party retaining control of the government.

The SNS party had governed Serbia for 14 consecutive years, wielding influence over all facets of power and state institutions. The party has faced allegations of corruption and cronyism, along with alleged ties to organized crime, all of which it has vehemently denied. The student movement's victory has garnered attention beyond Serbia's borders, as many European nations grapple with youth-led protests.

Serbia is formally pursuing EU membership, but the process has been hindered under Vucic's administration, who maintained close ties with Russia and China.