On October 25, 2026, former President Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)-led alliance conceded defeat in the parliamentary election. On election night, the student-led political movement known as the Student List secured a historic win. With 126 seats required for a majority, the Student List won 52.71% of the vote, securing 140 seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament, while Vučić’s alliance received 39.17% of the vote and secured 104 seats, according to preliminary results.
The Student List was created following an incident in 2024 when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. The tragedy sparked widespread protests demanding accountability, which then evolved into a political movement. Over the last two years, the movement has mobilized support across Serbia in an effort to put an end to corruption under Vučić’s leadership. Their mobilization spread across rural and urban areas of Serbia, with a nonpartisan approach focused on restoring democracy in small towns, rural communities, and urban areas. The candidates on the Student List consist largely of individuals with little to no political experience, many of whom are ordinary citizens with regular jobs.
Although Vučić had already served two terms as president, his goal was for his political party to remain in power and for him to possibly return as prime minister. Vučić served as prime minister from 2014 to 2017 and as president from 2017 until his resignation in September 2026.
During his time in power, Serbia faced increasing concerns about corruption. In February 2026, Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index reported that Serbia received a score of 33 out of 100, a decrease of two points from the previous year, ranking 116th out of 182 countries and territories.
After a historic win and renewed hopes for a less corrupt and more democratic government, the real work now begins for the Student List. As of November 1, the movement has not officially announced its choice for prime minister, although Ilija Srdanović has been discussed as a possible candidate. A separate presidential election is expected before the end of the year.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/serbia-election-aleksandar-vucic-concedes-defeat
https://www.axios.com/2026/10/25/serbia-election-2026-student-protests-vucic
https://www.reuters.com/world/reactions-election-victory-serbias-student-list-2026-10-25
https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/serbia
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