Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian leader brought down by students
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in snap parliamentary elections to the Student List, a movement born from two years of protests against his rule.
Vucic admitted defeat after the Student List, led by Novi Sad Faculty of Medicine professor Ilija Srdanovic, won 135–140 seats in the 250-member parliament.
The SNS, which Vucic has led for more than a decade, was projected to win only 105 seats, with voter turnout reaching its highest level in over 30 years.
It is clear that we have lost these elections.
The Student List emerged from protests sparked by the November 1, 2024, collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.
The movement, which united university professors, doctors, and workers, campaigned on promises to tackle corruption, depoliticise public institutions, and restore citizens' rights.
Student List victory
The election results mark a significant political shift, as the Student List capitalized on widespread discontent with Vucic’s rule.
Vucic had previously referred to the demonstrators as "blockaders" and accused them of seeking to destabilise Serbia.
The movement’s success reflects a broader wave of social unrest that has gripped the country for nearly two years.
Vucic's political background
Born in Belgrade in 1970, Vucic entered politics in 1993 as an ultranationalist, joining the Serbian Radical Party led by Vojislav Seselj.
His political record during the 1990s was marked by nationalist rhetoric, including a 1995 parliamentary statement: "Kill one Serb, and we will kill 100 Muslims."
After a split within the Serbian Radical Party, Vucic and Tomislav Nikolic founded the SNS in 2008, seeking to move closer to mainstream European politics.
Corruption and governance
The SNS came to power in 2012 promising to fight corruption, organised crime, and abuses committed under previous governments.
However, journalist Safeta Bisevac noted that the fight against corruption remained modest while authorities expanded their control over institutions, the media, and political life.
One of the most prominent cases was the 2012 arrest of businessman Miroslav Miskovic and his son Marko, who were later acquitted and compensated by the state.
Vucic's legacy
He won re-election in 2022, with his term originally due to run until 2027.
The election results now raise questions about the future direction of Serbia’s politics and the Student List’s ability to govern.
Related
