Vučić concedes as student protest list wins Serbia's snap election

The count: Serbia's Republic Electoral Commission reported that, with 97.56% of polling stations processed as of 8 p.m. Oct. 26, the Student List had 2,267,615 votes (52.71%) to 1,685,022 (39.17%) for "Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia." Ivica Dačić's list had 2.17%. The figures remain preliminary; final certified results and seat allocations are still pending. An earlier partial count, with 8,077 polling stations processed, had the Student List at 52.54% to 39.29%, Telegraf reported. Based on the preliminary count, the electoral commission allocated 140 of the 250 seats to the Student List, 104 to Vučić's list and six to national-minority lists, the Serbian government said. Voting was repeated Sunday, Nov. 1, at 53 polling stations with about 24,400 registered voters, where results could not be determined or the vote was annulled, public broadcaster RTS reported; results are not final until that vote is counted.

How it got here: Nov. 1, 2024 — a concrete canopy at the renovated Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 16 people. The deaths set off student-led demonstrations against what protesters called corruption and creeping authoritarianism; they became Serbia's biggest in a generation. September 2026 — after almost two years of protests, Vučić called snap elections. Oct. 25 — the Student List won.

The winners: The list of 250 largely unknown candidates, including university professors, actors and farmers, is led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanović, but it is unclear who will be prime minister, Reuters reported. "Tonight we celebrate victory, tomorrow we build the future," said Radomir Sajčić, a Belgrade University professor speaking for the students. Dejan Šoškić, a former central bank governor on the list, called for order and calm.

Vučić's side: Vučić and the SNS have repeatedly denied accusations of repression, corruption and spying on opponents, and Vučić has said the students are funded by foreign agents in Croatia and Montenegro, a charge the students dismiss. Supporters credit him with modernizing the economy and building highways, railways, schools and hospitals, Reuters reported. "We are used to being in the opposition," he said.

Reactions: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote, "We stand ready to...work together to advance Serbia's future in the European Union." Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar also pledged support, Reuters reported.

What's still unknown: Final certified results and seat totals, who will lead the government, and how a slate with no governing record will act. "The biggest uncertainty is...who is going to lead the government, who will be the key ministers, and how they will operate based on the promises they made," Warsaw-based election consultant Radivoje Grujić told Reuters.

Updated Oct. 28 with the Republic Electoral Commission's own preliminary count (97.56% of polling stations, as of Oct. 26 at 8 p.m.), replacing an earlier partial count reported by Telegraf. Final results and seat totals have not been certified. Seat figures are the electoral commission's preliminary allocation, as published by the Serbian government; Vučić's own estimate was 135 to 140 for the Student List and 105 for his party. Updated Nov. 1.