International Edition · Mon 26 Oct 2026
Geo-politics · via Financial Times
Students Topple Serbia's Strongman: 52.65% Ends Vučić's 14-Year Grip
Aleksandar Vučić conceded Sunday's snap parliamentary election to the Student List, the movement that has led two years of protests against corruption.
Chanan Zevin - Chief Editor and Head of Desks
Published
The result
Serbia's electoral commission said the Student List won 2,246,423 votes, or 52.65%, against 39.22% for the 'Aleksandar Vučić - United Serbia' list, on turnout of 68.78%. The FT reported Vučić had led Serbia for 14 years and said the students could take up to 140 of the 250 seats.
How he got here
Vučić stepped down as president last month and called the vote to return as prime minister, the FT said. The BBC reported the student movement began less than two years ago after a railway station disaster blamed on corruption and negligence.
Why it matters beyond Belgrade
A government built on street protests now inherits Serbia's balancing act between the EU, Russia and China. For Brussels, it is a chance to reset accession talks; for investors, a period of policy uncertainty in one of the Balkans' largest economies.
What to watch
Final seat totals, how fast a government is formed, and whether the new majority keeps its anti-corruption promises once in office.
Sources
- Financial Times, FT News Briefing transcript, 'Serbia's strongman leader voted out', 26 October 2026 · ft.com
- Government of Serbia, 'Latest RIK data: Student List wins 52.65%, United Serbia 39.22% of vote', 26 October 2026 · srbija.gov.rs
- BBC News, 'Serbia's veteran ruler Vučić concedes election to student-led protest movement', 26 October 2026 · bbc.com