Serbia has woken up from the historic defeat of Vucic, and this is his media this morning. They're hard to beat.

The Student List, known as "Students Win," secured a decisive victory in Serbia’s early parliamentary elections held on Sunday, October 25, according to preliminary results from the Republic Electoral Commission. With 95.4 percent of polling stations processed, the student coalition captured 2,164,808 votes, representing 53 percent of the total. This result projects them winning 139 of the 250 seats in the National Assembly, granting them a standalone majority capable of forming a government independently. The opposing list, led by former President Aleksandar Vučić under the banner "Aleksandar Vučić, United Serbia," received 1,629,647 votes, or 39.9 percent, which translates to approximately 104 mandates. The margin of victory exceeded 535,000 votes. Other political entities failed to clear the three percent threshold required for parliamentary entry, with the exception of small ethnic minority parties who are exempt from this rule. Vučić appeared on live television via the public broadcaster RTS to acknowledge his defeat, marking a significant shift after months of tension. He stated that while definitive results were pending, projections indicated his side had lost, with the Student List securing between 135 and 140 seats against his party's 105. He described the student campaign as incorrect and filled with lies, yet recognized their victory. Following his admission, celebrations erupted across Belgrade, with car convoys driving through the streets and large crowds of young people gathering near central shopping areas to cheer. The turnout was historic, approaching 70 percent, a level not seen since at least 30 years ago and close to the record set during the 2000 parliamentary elections. The election served as a referendum on Vučić’s leadership, having governed Serbia in various capacities since 2012. Critics have long accused him of corruption and ties to organized crime. He resigned as president in September to run for prime minister, challenging the student movement directly. The student initiative emerged following protests that began in 2024 after 16 people died in the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad. For nearly two years, hundreds of thousands of citizens demonstrated against corruption and authoritarianism. Radomir Sajčić, a candidate for the Student List, declared that Serbia has finally taken its destiny into its own hands, rewarding almost two years of struggle. Ilija Srdjanović, the top card on the student list and a cardiologist, stated that the country has turned its face away from a tyrant and is moving toward a better Serbia. Reactions from media aligned with the outgoing government highlighted a disconnect between the official results and their reporting. Several pro-government outlets focused heavily on Vučić’s image and statements rather than the scale of the loss. The tabloid Blic featured Vučić’s statement about his structure being "very firm" alongside stories about foreign tourists spending up to 600 euros daily and personal anecdotes involving a TV presenter’s family. Informer, owned by Dragan J. Vučićević, published data from a small sample of polling stations before final results showed Vučić’s list leading with 54.21 percent, labeling the student movement with derogatory terms. After the defeat became apparent, Vučićević expressed disbelief, stating he did not know how they would survive the outcome. He had previously dismissed rumors that Vučić might leave Serbia if he lost. Public frustration directed itself significantly at the public broadcaster RTS. Although RTS aired a segment showing the student celebration, social media users flooded the channel’s posts with angry comments. Many recalled months of protests outside the RTS building, accusing the service of systematically ignoring the student movement and using pejorative language such as "blockers." Commentators mocked the sudden change in tone, noting that the channel had previously given minimal airtime to the students. One user sarcastically asked if the staff had just heard that students existed. Others demanded radical changes, including the shutdown of the service, criticizing the broadcast of a feature film on election night instead of comprehensive coverage. Some predicted that the current director, Manja Grčić, would hold the shortest mandate in the history of RTS. Political analysts noted the magnitude of the shift. Dejan Jović, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb, called the result excellent news for democracy and a model of resistance to authoritarian systems. He emphasized the need to monitor the transition of power carefully, noting that the Student List is not a traditional party, creating questions about future governance structures. The Socialist Party, a recent ally of Vučić, failed to enter parliament, losing its previous 18 seats. European leaders congratulated Serbia on the democratic outcome. The atmosphere in Belgrade remained tense even after polls closed, with heavy police presence in the city center amid fears of provocations. The election concluded a period defined by high political polarization and sustained civic mobilization.