Student List claims Serbian majority as Vucic steps down

Serbian voters cast decisive ballots on Sunday, ending the political dominance of Aleksandar Vucic after more than a decade. The Student List, a coalition formed by students, academics, and professionals, secured a commanding majority in the snap parliamentary election. This result transfers legislative power to a group that campaigned on corruption, institutional independence, and improved living standards.

The shift in power traces back to 2024, when a canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. That tragedy ignited youth-led protests that demanded accountability from the government. Over the following months, these demonstrations expanded into a broader political movement challenging the established order. The Student List formalized this effort with an electoral program released in September, which prioritized fighting organized crime, boosting employment, and ensuring media freedom.

On Monday, the Republic Election Commission (RIK) released data from 8,077 of 8,392 polling stations. The commission reported that the Student List received 52.54 percent of the vote. The United Serbia list, headed by Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party, gathered 39.29 percent. Voter turnout reached 68.78 percent, marking the highest participation in over 30 years according to RIK figures.

These numbers translate to a clear mandate in the 250-seat parliament. Projections indicate the Student List will win 140 seats, well above the 126 needed for a single-party majority. United Serbia is expected to take 103 seats. The remaining five seats will go to smaller groups, including the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, which is projected to win three, and the Albanian political bloc, which is projected to win two.

The Student List has not yet named a specific candidate for prime minister. During the campaign, the movement emphasized its collective nature, avoiding a single front-runner. Ilija Srdanovic, a professor of medicine and cardiologist at the University of Novi Sad, led the campaign as the movement's face. He is now viewed as the most likely choice to head the new government, though the distribution of key ministries for finance, internal affairs, and justice remains undecided.

The formation of the new cabinet will proceed without the need for prolonged coalition negotiations. Serbian law requires the new National Assembly to be established within 30 days of the final results. A government must be formed within 90 days of that assembly's formation. The Student List's independent majority simplifies this timeline, removing the bargaining process typical of fragmented parliaments.

The presidential office is also in transition. Vucic resigned as president on September 27 after calling for the snap vote. Ana Brnabic, the speaker of the National Assembly, currently serves as interim president. She is required to organize an extraordinary presidential election by December 27. The Serbian president is elected directly by citizens, but the role is largely ceremonial, with executive power residing in the prime minister and cabinet.

The Student List stated on Sunday that it intends to improve relations with neighboring countries, aiming to repair ties strained during Vucic's tenure. The movement's victory marks the first time a student-led political force has controlled the Serbian parliament. The final official results are pending, but the current data confirms the Student List's path to power.

Vucic's political career began in 2014 when he first entered national leadership, initially as prime minister before moving to the presidency. His departure leaves the Student List to define the next phase of Serbia's governance. The new leadership will face immediate tasks, including staffing ministries and addressing the economic and institutional challenges outlined in their platform. The political center of gravity in Belgrade has shifted from the Progressive Party to the Student List.