Serbia's leader concedes defeat after 12 years in power

Aleksandar Vucic, the 56-year-old leader who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, conceded defeat in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election. He acknowledged the victory of the Student List, a movement born from mass protests against corruption, in a speech delivered approximately 90 minutes after polling stations closed in Belgrade. According to exit polls based on a stratified sample, the Student List secured between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while Vucic’s coalition, known as United Serbia, was projected to win roughly 105 seats. This outcome ends the rule of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has held power since 2012, marking a profound political shift in the Balkan nation of approximately 6.5 million people. The election was characterized by record-breaking participation, with voter turnout reaching 69 percent, the highest level recorded in 33 years. Tens of thousands of supporters flooded the streets of Belgrade on Sunday night, halting trams and traffic on the city’s main boulevards. Smoke hung in the air as crowds waved flares and cheered near the headquarters of the election commission. At the Student List headquarters, candidates and supporters embraced and chanted “Victory,” reacting to the results with visible emotion. Milica, a law student present at the celebrations, stated that the result allowed her to finally breathe freely. Nebojsa Cosic, another supporter, declared that the people had defeated a dictator and would now lead the country. Vucic’s path to power traces back to the 1990s, when he served as an information minister under former Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic. Following Milosevic’s ouster in 2000, Vucic remained active in the far-right Serbian Radical Party before undergoing a significant rebrand in 2008. He co-founded the conservative, pro-European SNS, which won its first parliamentary majority in 2012. Since then, Vucic has served as deputy prime minister, defense minister, prime minister, and president. He presided over a period of strong economic growth and cultivated an image of stability and development, often citing infrastructure projects and increased living standards as evidence of his success. However, opponents criticized him for authoritarian tendencies and endemic corruption, noting his reluctance to condemn Serbs convicted of wartime atrocities. The turning point in Vucic’s tenure occurred in November 2024, when a concrete canopy collapsed at a newly renovated train station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. The disaster ignited widespread anger over alleged corruption and poor construction standards in public infrastructure. What began as student-led demonstrations demanding transparent investigations quickly evolved into the largest protest movement in Serbia since the fall of Milosevic. For nearly two years, protesters, primarily university students, organized blockades and marches, accusing the government of cronyism and political patronage. Although students led the initial protests, they did not appear on the final electoral list. Instead, the Student List fielded 250 candidates comprising lawyers, professors, actors, farmers, and other professionals, aiming to challenge Vucic’s personalized style of rule with a broad, non-partisan coalition. Vucic attempted to retain power through a strategic maneuver reminiscent of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s playbook. In late September, he resigned as president, having reached the constitutional limit of two terms, with the intention of running for prime minister to maintain control of the government. He left the presidential duties to interim leader Ana Brnabic. Despite this tactical move, the strategy failed amidst high voter engagement and sustained public pressure. In his concession speech, Vucic blamed his defeat on independent media, unnamed European countries, and what he termed the “American deep state.” He described the opposing movement as “contractors doing some very dirty work” but offered no evidence for these claims. While accepting the result, he vowed to return, stating he would defeat his opponents sooner than they expect. The political landscape in Serbia is set to undergo significant restructuring. The parliament will effectively consist of two major blocs, eliminating many previously mainstream liberal, conservative, and nationalist parties. The Socialist Party, historically associated with the Milosevic era, has been excluded from parliament for the first time in 18 years. The Student List has pledged to focus on fighting corruption, overhauling the judiciary, improving election conditions, and increasing media diversity. They also intend to review large infrastructure contracts signed under Vucic, including the $2.4 billion Expo 2027 project, which Vucic had promoted as a legacy achievement. Additionally, the movement plans to break up monopolies and conduct reviews of past deals and policies. Regarding foreign policy, the new leadership has shown caution on sensitive issues. Representatives of the Student List have been hesitant to commit immediately to meeting EU membership conditions, suggesting that the decision could be put to a national referendum. They have also been careful regarding Serbia’s stance on Kosovo’s unilateral secession and potential sanctions against Russia. Prior to the vote, the movement emphasized a desire for peace and dignity, urging citizens to act responsibly following the election. Radomir Saicic, one of the movement’s leaders, stated that the victory proved Serbia could improve itself and called for continued peaceful action. International reaction to the result has been swift. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on social media on Sunday welcoming the change of power, stating that the EU is ready to support reforms. The election concludes a tense period marked by frequent clashes between protesters and police, as well as internal divisions within the opposition. The Student List lacks a single charismatic leader and its members generally lack extensive experience in government. As the new parliament prepares to convene, attention turns to how this diverse group of professionals will translate their protest-driven mandate into legislative action. The immediate task involves managing the transition of power and addressing the backlog of judicial and infrastructural reviews promised during the campaign.