Serbia's long-standing Putin-supporting leader concedes defeat to student-led protest movement

The result, announced only an hour and a half after polls closed, came after tensions had built as voting progressed throughout the day. Mr Vucic, who had been endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and denounced the student movement as a foreign-led attempt to unseat him, led with virtually absolute power for 14 years.

The election boiled down to a contest between Mr Vucic's Right-wing Serbian Progressive Party and the Students' List, a group of 250 academics, professionals and public figures selected by university students. The latter, headed by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, emerged triumphant among Serbia's 6.4 million voters.

Mr Vucic told supporters at his party's election night event that 'The Students' List has won,' though he blamed Serbia's independent media as well as alleged interference by unnamed European countries and an 'American deep state' for the loss.

Supporters of the Students' List immediately flooded onto the streets of Belgrade and other cities around the country, honking horns, shouting and chanting 'Aleksandar is gone'. Ivo Petrovic, a 31-year-old software developer and supporter, said: 'It's unbelievable, I mean most people don't even realise yet what a victory we've won today.'

The victory was driven by a massive youth turnout, unseen in Serbia since 2000. Monitors predicted that total turnout could reach around 70 per cent. The election was closely watched by the EU, a candidate nation for the bloc's membership, following previous polls marred by irregularities.

Independent election monitors reported dozens of cases of irregularities on Sunday, including the photographing of ballots that suggested pressure on voters and attempted vote buying. Mr Petrovic accused Vucic loyalists of 'attacking the closest polling station to the parliament earlier in the day'.

Both international and local election monitors had expressed concern about the safety and fairness of an election campaign marked by detentions, near-total government control over the media and reports of surveillance and cyberattacks against activists.

Student movement's rise

The Students' List was shaped by university students but none actually appeared on the election list. Instead, its candidates are little-known experts, athletes, farmers and artists. This approach was meant to counter Mr Vucic's one-man rule and restore a sense of community and solidarity.

The students' message during the campaign focused on a non-partisan effort to rebuild Serbia's economy and restore its democracy. Vilified by pro-government media, they cycled and walked through the country to reach voters in rural areas, Mr Vucic's traditional strongholds.

The movement's symbol is the three-finger gesture, representing the Holy Trinity and protection. It gained added resonance as Students' List was listed third on the election ballot paper. Supporters waved the symbol and set off coloured flares in celebration.

Support for Mr Vucic had eroded since 16 people were killed in 2024 when a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad. That set off a wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption, cronyism and rampant graft during renovation work at the station.

While the increasingly authoritarian Mr Vucic has routinely outplayed Serbia's fractured opposition in the past, the leaderless youth movement proved to be a tough opponent that rattled his firm grip on power like no one else in the 14 years since his party took office.

International reaction

The outcome has been met with cautious optimism from the European Commission. Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, said: 'Serbia has raised its voice. After nearly two years of protests for democracy, the rule of law and the fight against corruption, the citizens of Serbia turned out to vote in historic numbers.'

The student victory echoed the recent electoral defeat of a Vucic ally in Hungary, where youth participation helped oust the autocratic Viktor Orbán after 16 years. It was likely to resonate beyond Serbia as countries across Europe have faced angry youth and student protests.

Next steps

Mr Vucic was seeking to become Serbia's prime minister after serving two near-full terms as president. He resigned the presidency last month to lead the campaign. The Students' List's victory means a new government must now be formed, with the potential for significant political change.

The three-finger gesture, once a symbol of protection among student protesters, has now become a symbol of a potential new era for the country. As celebrations continue, the focus will shift to the practical challenges of governing and implementing the reforms promised by the student-led movement.