150'000 against Vučić: Serbian youth wants to overthrow the old regime

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections, acknowledging that a student-led opposition movement has ended his fourteen-year grip on power. In a statement delivered late Sunday, Vučić admitted that his Serbian Progressive Party would secure approximately 105 seats in the 250-member parliament, while the Student List is projected to win between 135 and 140 seats. He stated that no other parties crossed the threshold for parliamentary entry. The result follows nearly two years of sustained protests against corruption and authoritarianism, culminating in a historic voter turnout that officials described as the highest in more than three decades. The political upheaval traces back to a tragedy in November 2024, when a concrete canopy at the renovated railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, killing sixteen people. The incident sparked nationwide outrage over government mismanagement and corruption. What began as grief quickly evolved into a mass movement driven primarily by university students. Over the following months, demonstrators occupied faculties and marched across the country, demanding new elections and accountability. By Thursday prior to the vote, roughly 150,000 people gathered at Slavija Square in central Belgrad for a final rally, filling the space with red flares and phone torchlight. Police were notably absent from the scene, allowing the crowd to organize itself peacefully. Vučić, who had ruled Serbia for over a decade, moved to retain power despite losing the presidency. Citing constitutional limits that barred him from serving a third term as president, he resigned from that post on September 27 to lead his party’s list as prime ministerial candidate. During the interim, Ana Brnabić, the acting parliament speaker, held the presidential office. However, the electorate rejected his strategy. Preliminary data from the Serbian broadcaster RTS suggested the Student List captured approximately 52 percent of the vote, while Vučić’s party received 39.9 percent. A representative exit poll by CESID-IPSPS estimated the Student List would take 138 seats and the Serbian Progressive Party 104, with remaining seats allocated to ethnic minority representatives. Vučić claimed his party garnered 1.7 million votes, whereas the Student List secured 2.2 million. The Student List emerged as a unique political entity, uniting leftists, liberals, and national conservatives under a banner of anti-corruption sentiment. Unlike traditional parties, the movement lacks a fixed hierarchy; decisions are made in plenums where all members hold equal voting rights. Candidates on the list include farmers, athletes, artists, and academic experts, such as Belgrade University professor Radomir Sajcic, who addressed supporters at the group’s headquarters. Sajcic declared that the voice of the people was finally being heard, promising to build the future starting the next day. Another spokesperson summarized the moment as a new beginning for the nation. Celebrations erupted immediately after Vučić’s concession. Streets in Belgrad filled with tens of thousands of residents, many honking car horns and chanting slogans declaring the former leader finished. Social media feeds displayed images of massive crowds rejoicing in the streets. One young person told The Guardian that the outcome felt surprisingly simple. A woman named Tanja, celebrating in Belgrad, expressed immense relief at shedding what she called a mafia-like regime. Other witnesses described emotions ranging from laughter to tears, characterizing the atmosphere as surreal after years of perceived dictatorship. Despite the clear loss, Vučić blamed external factors for the outcome. He accused independent media outlets and unnamed European countries of interference in the electoral process. His party had consistently denied allegations of repression, corruption, and surveillance of political opponents throughout the campaign period. The high level of engagement was evident in the long lines forming outside polling stations across cities and towns on Sunday. With nearly 70 percent of eligible voters participating, the election signaled a profound shift in public sentiment. The movement’s success relied heavily on grassroots mobilization. Students traveled to rural areas on foot and by bicycle to engage directly with voters in regions traditionally supportive of Vučić. This direct approach helped bridge generational and class divides, drawing support from parents and grandparents who backed the younger protesters. At the pre-election rally, organizers noted that the movement had transformed from a demand for functional institutions into a direct challenge to Vučić personally, with chants demanding his departure echoing through the square. As the dust settles on the election, attention turns to how the Student List will translate its mandate into governance. The coalition nature of the list presents complex challenges for policy formation, given the diverse ideological backgrounds of its members. Meanwhile, Vučić’s concession closes a chapter in Serbian history defined by his dominance. The immediate aftermath sees a population eager for change, having voted decisively against the status quo. The transition of power will likely involve negotiations over cabinet positions and legislative priorities, though specific timelines for these processes have not yet been detailed in initial reports. The focus now shifts from protest to administration, with the new leadership tasked with addressing the systemic issues that fueled the recent unrest.