Celebrations Erupt in Serbia as Vučić Concedes Election Defeat to Student Movement

Celebrations have erupted across Serbia after long-serving leader Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in snap parliamentary elections to a student-led protest movement that campaigned against corruption and government control.

Vučić announced the defeat late on Sunday at the headquarters of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Belgrade, acknowledging that preliminary results showed his party had lost the election.

“We still do not have final results… it is clear that we have lost these elections,” he said.

The concession triggered celebrations in several Serbian cities, with crowds dancing in the streets, chanting “victory”, honking car horns and setting off fireworks.

The election followed two years of student-led protests sparked by the collapse of a railway station canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. The tragedy became a symbol of alleged corruption and negligence, fuelling public anger and demands for accountability.

Vučić called the snap election amid the continuing demonstrations. Having already served two terms as president, he could not seek a third and instead led his party in an attempt to return to the position of prime minister, which he left in 2017.

The Student List movement attracted voters opposed to the government from across Serbian society. Its lead candidate, Ilija Srdanović, told BBC Serbian that the result offered an opportunity to build a freer country.

The movement had campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, promising to remove officials who violated rules, stop political loyalists from leading public enterprises and protect the public broadcaster from political control.

It also called for action against officials accused of cracking down on protesters. Vučić and his party have repeatedly denied allegations of corruption.

The Student List has no obvious single leader, and many of its members have limited experience in formal politics. Its candidates for the 250-seat parliament were drawn from different sectors of society, including medicine, entertainment, academia and sport.

Supporters said the election result reflected widespread public frustration and a desire for political change.

In Belgrade, people gathered to celebrate, while the centre of Novi Sad was also crowded with jubilant residents. One student described the outcome as a miracle, telling the BBC that Serbia was free.

Another supporter, David Vasić, told BBC Serbian that he believed conditions would improve following the result.

Student List candidate Radomir Saicic said during a celebration speech that Serbian voters had demonstrated the strength of their determination. He argued that no force could permanently overcome a population determined to take control of its future, Reuters reported.

The election recorded strong participation, with preliminary figures from Serbia’s election commission indicating that 64.9% of voters had cast their ballots by 18:00 local time, two hours before polling stations were scheduled to close.

Long queues were reported outside polling stations in cities and towns across Serbia. Similar scenes were seen in countries with sizeable Serbian communities, including Slovenia, Germany and the United States. Voters also waited in heavy rain in Paris, France.

The vote took place amid heightened political tensions, with police sealing off streets around the Republic Electoral Commission headquarters in Belgrade.

Vučić has supported Serbia’s bid to join the European Union while refusing to impose sanctions on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the campaign, he also pledged higher pensions, increased public-sector salaries and greater investment in state healthcare.

The preliminary outcome represents a major setback for Vučić’s political movement after years of dominance in Serbian politics. However, final election results had not yet been announced at the time of his concession.

The coming period will test whether the student-led movement can translate its election victory into lasting political change and deliver on its promises to tackle corruption and strengthen public accountability.