Serbia’s Student-Led List Secures Parliamentary Majority

On October 25 2026, Serbia’s “Student List” won a parliamentary majority, defeating Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Preliminary figures released by the Republic Electoral Commission on October 26 gave the Student List 52.65 % of the vote and a projected 140 seats in the 250-member National Assembly, while the SNS-led coalition was projected to receive about 39 % and roughly 104 seats. Vucic announced the result about an hour and a half after polls closed, noting the SNS had obtained around 1.7 million votes compared with roughly 2.2 million for the Student List.

Serbia’s victorious student movement faces tough challenges as it prepares to take power

The movement originated in late 2024 after a canopy collapse at Novi Sad’s railway station, killing 16 people. The tragedy sparked protests that blamed corruption and opaque procurement. Over the next two years, students, academics, artists and other civil-society figures organized a leaderless coalition that campaigned on an 11-point platform promising anti-corruption measures, media freedom, judicial reform and a “non-partisan” rebuilding of Serbia’s economy and democratic institutions.

PBS News Hour

• Parliamentary seats (preliminary): Student List ? 140; SNS ? 104 (Republic Electoral Commission).

Serbia's Student List ends Vucic's decade-long rule with historic election victory

• Vote share (preliminary): Student List ? 52.65 %; SNS ? 39.22 % (Republic Electoral Commission).

Serbia's Student List ends Vucic's decade-long rule with historic election victory

• Turnout: 68.78 % of the 6.4 million eligible voters.

Serbia's Student List ends Vucic's decade-long rule with historic election victory

• Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat, attributing his loss to “independent media” and alleged interference by unnamed European countries and an “American deep state.”

The Irish Times

• Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, congratulated the Students’ List and expressed readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Armenian Prime Minister congratulates Serbia’s Students’ List on election victory

Seat counts differ among sources: the Republic Electoral Commission lists 140 seats for the Student List, while CeSID projected 139, and other outlets cite 135–140. Vote-share percentages also vary slightly. Final certification remains pending, and the future cabinet composition and foreign-policy stance—particularly regarding EU sanctions on Russia—are unclear.

Students take power in Serbia, the race for the new government begins! Brussels and Moscow await, Kosovo remains a major challenge – Balkanweb.com

Serbian law requires the new parliament to convene within 30 days, after which coalition talks will determine the cabinet. A presidential election is mandated following Vucic’s resignation in September 2026. EU officials are monitoring the government-formation process, noting that progress on judicial and anti-corruption benchmarks will affect Serbia’s EU accession trajectory. Observers warn that the movement’s decentralized structure may complicate decision-making once it assumes executive responsibility.

Serbia’s Student Opposition Wins Decisive Parliamentary Victory

• “we are all too happy, finally we are becoming one normal and free country.” — Maja Stetic

PBS News Hour

• “That is the best thing that happened in my life. We will now breathe freely,” — Milica

The Jerusalem Post

• “Congratulations to the Students’ List and studentblokade on their electoral victory in Serbia. Armenia looks forward to working with Serbia’s next government to further strengthen our longstanding friendship and bilateral cooperation,” — Nikol Pashinyan.

Armenian Prime Minister congratulates Serbia’s Students’ List on election victory