Student Bloc Takes Control of Serbian Parliament After Record Turnout

Serbia's student-led political list has secured a majority in the 250-member parliament, ending the long tenure of President Aleksandar Vucic. The snap election held on Sunday saw voter turnout reach its highest level in more than 30 years. This result marks a decisive shift in the country's political center of gravity.

Vucic, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party, conceded defeat to his supporters following the vote. He stated, "It is clear that we have lost these elections." Early counts indicated his list would claim 105 seats, while projections placed the Student List between 135 and 140 seats. The Student List emerged from protests that began after a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, killing 16 people.

Ilija Srdanovic, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, led the campaign for the Student List. The movement pledged to combat corruption, depoliticize public institutions, and restore citizen rights. Vucic, who has led Serbia since joining the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party in 1993, frequently criticized the demonstrators as "blockaders" attempting to destabilize the state. His political career includes serving as prime minister before becoming president in 2017.

Economic indicators show mixed results during Vucic's tenure. Unemployment dropped from 26 percent to between 8 and 9 percent, and nominal GDP nearly tripled to approximately 90 billion euros. Foreign direct investment rose from 800 million euros in 2012 to a record 5.2 billion euros in 2024. However, journalist Safeta Bisevac noted that living standards did not rise in step with wages, while the cost of living and public debt remain points of contention.

Political scientist Dusko Radosavljevic described the outcome as a reflection of "systematic pressure and the destruction of social institutions" over the past decade. He stated that intelligence services spent considerable time monitoring political opponents while critical thinking was marginalized in public media. Radosavljevic said the students "simply gave a voice to the justified anger of citizens." Vucic resigned as president in September under protest pressure but retained influence over party policy until the vote.

The new parliament will now move to form a government, with the Student List positioned to lead the country's direction. The transition follows a period where the Serbian Progressive Party controlled state apparatus and media outlets. Vucic's party had previously promised to fight corruption and organized crime when it first took power in 2012. The election results signal a mandate for the new leadership to address these long-standing institutional issues.