Vučić concedes defeat to Serbia's student movement

Serbia's longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić has admitted defeat in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, conceding to a movement that began with student protests.

Speaking about an hour and a half after polls closed on 25 October, Vučić said it was clear his side had lost. According to his party's own projection, the Student List will win 135 to 140 of the parliament's 250 seats, and his Serbian Progressive Party about 105. A majority needs 126. These are projections, not official results.

Vučić has dominated Serbian politics through his party since 2012. He resigned as president in September to lead the campaign and was seeking to become prime minister.

The Student List grew out of nationwide anti-corruption protests that began after a concrete canopy collapsed at Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 16 people. Many of its candidates come from medicine, education and other professions and have never held office. Some established opposition parties backed it instead of running their own lists.

Turnout was the highest in decades, according to the election commission's interim figures. Monitors also reported pressure on voters at some polling stations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the movement and said the EU is ready to support reforms. Official results and the formation of a new government are still to come.