Serbia's Political Landscape Shifts: Student List Claims Victory, Vucic Era Ends

A student-led opposition movement, the Student List, has emerged victorious in Serbia’s snap parliamentary election, signaling the end of former President Aleksandar Vucic’s extensive period in power. The bloc's win on Sunday follows nearly two years of youth-driven protests that were initially sparked by the tragic deaths of 16 people in a railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad in 2024. These demonstrations, which began with demands for accountability, rapidly transformed into a broader political campaign targeting alleged corruption and the perceived capture of democratic institutions.

In its electoral program unveiled in September, the Student List prioritized combating corruption and organized crime. The movement also committed to enhancing living standards, stimulating employment, improving educational systems, guaranteeing media freedom, and safeguarding the independence of Serbia’s institutions. Following their victory declaration on Sunday, the Student List also expressed intentions to foster improved relations with neighboring countries, aiming to mend ties strained during Vucic’s more than a decade-long tenure.

What are the latest results?

The Republic Election Commission (RIK) reported on Monday that the Student List secured 52.54 percent of the vote, with data processed from 8,077 out of 8,392 polling stations. The United Serbia list, headed by Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, garnered 39.29 percent of the ballots cast. Voter turnout reached a significant 68.78 percent, marking a record high in over three decades, according to RIK data from Sunday.

What’s next?

Although the final election results are pending, the current figures indicate that the Student List possesses the capability to form a majority government independently within Serbia’s 250-seat parliament. The bloc is projected to secure 140 seats, surpassing the 126 mandates required for a majority. United Serbia is expected to obtain 103 seats. The remaining seats are allocated to the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (three), the Albanian political bloc (two), and the Rasim Ljajc-Ljudski and SDA Sandzak lists, each receiving one seat.

Who could be the new prime minister?

In contrast to United Serbia, which had nominated Vucic as its prime ministerial candidate prior to the election, the Student List refrained from naming a specific leader during the campaign. Since its inception, the movement has emphasized its collective nature, uniting academics, doctors, and workers, and has deliberately avoided highlighting individual candidates. Ilija Srdanovic, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Novi Sad and a cardiologist, who led the movement during the campaign, is now considered the most probable candidate for the next prime minister. However, the selection of individuals for key ministerial positions, including internal affairs, finance, and justice, remains uncertain.

When will the new government be formed?

The timeline for government formation is contingent upon the official announcement of the final election results and the subsequent convening of parliament. The new National Assembly must be constituted within 30 days of the final results being published. Subsequently, a government must be formed within 90 days of the assembly's establishment. However, the Student List's substantial majority eliminates the necessity for protracted coalition negotiations.

What about the president?

Aleksandar Vucic has been a dominant figure in Serbian politics since 2014, serving first as prime minister and then as president. Following his call for snap parliamentary elections last month and his subsequent resignation as president, the role has been temporarily filled by Ana Brnabic, the president of the National Assembly. Brnabic is constitutionally required to call for an extraordinary presidential election, which must take place no later than three months after the conclusion of Vucic’s mandate. Vucic resigned on September 27, setting December 27 as the deadline for holding the presidential vote. The Serbian president is directly elected by the populace, not by parliamentary representatives, and the position holds largely ceremonial authority.