Serbia election: Vucic concedes defeat to student-led movement

Serbia's long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat to a student-led movement in the country's parliamentary elections, marking a seismic political shift. The election, which saw a record high turnout of nearly 70%, was a showdown between Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the newly formed, youth-backed Students' List. According to preliminary results, the Students' List is projected to win between 135 and 140 seats, while Vucic's SNS party is expected to have 105 seats. The remaining seats will be shared between ethnic national minority parties.

The result brings an end to more than a decade of rule by Vucic and his SNS party, which has been accused of corruption and authoritarianism. The student-led movement, which emerged from mass protests against the government's handling of a train station canopy collapse in 2024, has been demanding accountability and an end to Vucic's grip on power. The protests, which began with university students staging blockades and marches, have snowballed into a movement larger than anything Serbia has experienced since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Vucic's concession speech was met with celebrations on the streets of Belgrade, with people dancing and chanting 'victory' and 'he's done'. The student-led movement has hailed the result as a victory for the voice of the people, with Radomir Sajcic, a professor at Belgrade University, saying 'Dear Serbia, tonight the voice of the people is being heard. Tonight we celebrate victory, tomorrow we build the future.'

The snap elections were called after two years of protests, which were triggered by the deaths of 16 people in the train station canopy collapse. The incident was seen as emblematic of corruption and negligence in Serbia, and the student-led movement has been demanding justice and accountability for the victims and their families.

The result is a significant blow to Vucic's authoritarian regime, which has been criticized for its human rights record and suppression of opposition. The student-led movement has been hailed as a beacon of hope for democracy and freedom in Serbia, and its victory is seen as a major step towards a more inclusive and accountable government.