Serbia experienced one of the biggest political shocks in more than 15 years on Sunday evening. Aleksandar Vučić, the man who has dominated the country's political scene, appeared before the media and did the unexpected.
He admitted defeat in the early parliamentary elections, after 14 years of dominance of the Serbian Progressive Party in the country's political life.
"We still don't have final results, but based on a statistical sample it is clear that we lost these elections. The 'Student List' won. They will have between 135-140 seats and we will have 105. No one else will be in parliament," Vučić said.
According to the first assessment by Ipsos/CeSID, the "Student List" has 52% against 39.3% for Vučić's coalition. This way, the students have about 138 of the 250 seats in Parliament. The figures remain preliminary.
Belgrade erupts in celebration
After Vučić conceded defeat, celebrations erupted on the streets of Belgrade with cars honking their horns and students shouting "victory" and "it's over."
Supporters of the "Student List" took to the streets of the Serbian capital to celebrate their huge electoral victory, holding Serbian flags in their hands. Many started dancing while others hugged the police officers who had raped them in many of the protests held over the past two years.
What happened on Sunday?
The elections were held with an exceptionally high turnout. They were preceded by a tense political climate in two years of massive anti-government protests, which began after the collapse of a tent at the Novi Sad train station in November 2024 that claimed the lives of 16 people.
The student movement transformed popular discontent with corruption and the functioning of institutions into an organized political demand. Its victory now paves the way for a change of government in Belgrade, with important implications for Serbia's relations with the European Union, Russia, and the rest of the Western Balkans.
"Tonight we celebrate victory, tomorrow we build the future"
“Dear Serbia, tonight the voice of the people was heard,” declared Radomir Saicic, a professor at the University of Belgrade, speaking on behalf of students at his movement’s headquarters. “Tonight we celebrate victory, tomorrow we build the future,” he added.
Voter turnout was nearly 70 percent, the highest since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in 1992. Long lines formed at polling stations, a sign of the desire for change among many people.
Allegations of irregularities in the electoral process
However, the election process was not without problems. Organizations are reporting irregularities, mainly related to vote buying, duplicate voter registration lists, and attacks on voters.
A serious incident occurred in the city of Pancevo. Outside a polling station located at the city's Agricultural School, a group of masked men physically attacked young people waiting to vote. Videos circulating on social media show at least one young man with a bloody face. Police forces rushed to the scene, while the injured were provided with medical assistance.
A video also circulated online showing a group of hundreds of young people dressed in black and wearing hoodies moving along a central street in Belgrade.
At the same time, the presence of security forces on the streets of the capital is intense. At noon in the center of Belgrade, many police vehicles that were used to suppress the protests were seen. Earlier in the day, a convoy of about 20 heavy police vehicles was seen on the Belgrade-Niš highway heading towards Belgrade.
The vehicles that appeared on the streets of Belgrade had first appeared during the summer 2025 protests in Novi Sad, when they were used by police forces to remove protesters from main streets and avenues.
Albanians seek history
For the first time, Albanians will have 2 deputies in the Serbian Parliament, thanks to a merger of the 8 Albanian parties of the Presevo Valley into a joint list. Representatives of the Albanian coalition said they were fighting for every vote in order to get a third mandate. ©LAPSI.al
