Historic election in Serbia: Vučić’s 12-year rule comes to an end

A student movement that has been staging anti-government protests in Serbia for the past two years is now poised to secure a parliamentary majority in a historic election.

Following the announcement of preliminary results, celebrations erupted in the capital, Belgrade, and many other cities across the country, signaling the end of President Aleksandar Vučić’s 12-year rule. Addressing his supporters at his party’s headquarters in Belgrade, Vučić acknowledged the defeat—noting that final results had yet to be officially declared—and stated:

“It is clear that we have lost this election. The ‘Student List’ has won.”

The election was also notable for its high turnout. Long queues formed outside polling stations, with voters in some areas having to wait up to two hours to cast their ballots.

The political crisis in Serbia intensified following a tragedy in November 2024, when a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station, killing 16 people. In the wake of the disaster, students began organizing protests. Reports concerning construction flaws, legal violations, and potential corruption fueled the unrest, causing it to expand into a broader anti-government movement. This election, held following two years of ongoing protests, is being viewed as an event that could shift the balance of political forces in Serbia.