Student List wins 52.5 percent of Serbian vote in record turnout election
The opposition movement secured a parliamentary majority, ending the decade-long rule of Aleksandar Vucic after nearly two years of protests.
By Fatou Kim ·
The Student List captured 52.54 percent of the vote in Sunday's Serbian parliamentary election, according to the Republic Election Commission. This result, based on data from 8,077 of 8,392 polling stations, signals a decisive shift in the country's political balance. The opposition movement now holds a clear path to governing without coalition partners.
Turnout reached 68.78 percent, the highest recorded in over three decades. The United Serbia list, which includes the Serbian Progressive Party led by former President Aleksandar Vucic, received 39.29 percent of the vote. Projected seat counts show the Student List winning 140 of the 250 seats in parliament, well above the 126 required for a majority. United Serbia is projected to hold 103 seats. The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians is expected to take three seats, the Albanian political bloc two, and two other lists one each.
The election concludes a period of intense public pressure that began in 2024. Following the death of 16 people when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, citizens demanded accountability. Those protests evolved into a sustained campaign against alleged corruption and the control of democratic institutions by the previous administration.
Ilija Srdanovic, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad, led the campaign. He is widely viewed as the most likely candidate for prime minister, though the Student List has not formally nominated a single leader. The group has emphasized its collective nature, uniting academics, doctors, and workers. Its September platform prioritized fighting corruption and organized crime, raising living standards, and securing media freedom.
Aleksandar Vucic, who served as prime minister and then president from 2014, called the snap election last month. He resigned as president on September 27. Ana Brnabic, the speaker of the National Assembly, is currently acting head of state. She is required to call a presidential election by December 27. The president is directly elected but holds a largely ceremonial role.
The new National Assembly must convene within 30 days of the final results. A government must be formed within 90 days of that date. Because the Student List holds a projected majority, the process of forming a cabinet may proceed without the lengthy negotiations often required for coalition governments. Key ministry assignments, including internal affairs, finance, and justice, remain undecided.
The Student List stated it intends to improve relations with neighboring countries. Diplomatic ties grew tense during Vucic's more than decade in power. Final official results are still pending, but current data confirms the Student List's command of the parliament.
