Powerful Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's 14-year rule has come to an end after a student-led movement secured a parliamentary majority in Sunday's election. The 56-year-old former president conceded defeat on October 25, 2026, nearly two-and-a-half years after continuous protests by the student movement against corruption and his government.
It remains unclear who will lead the Balkan nation after Vucic's ouster. Preliminary results from 99% of counted ballots reveal student-backed candidates winning 139 seats in the 250-member parliament, securing 52.7% of the vote.
Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)-led alliance, meanwhile, received 39.2% of the vote, capturing 97 seats. The movement emerged following the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people and sparked nationwide demonstrations over alleged corruption.
Interestingly, Vucic had resigned from the presidency last month to contest the parliamentary elections and seek the prime minister's office in a bid to extend his political influence. However, his defeat has left his political future uncertain, while the student-backed movement faces the complex challenge of forming a government.
Unlike traditional political parties, the movement lacks a single leader; its parliamentary candidates include academics, medical professionals, economists, and other public figures. The coalition has yet to announce its candidate for prime minister.
Under Serbia's constitution, the newly elected parliament must convene within 30 days of official results, and a government must be formed within 90 days of its first sitting. Presidential elections are also expected before the end of December.
The incoming leadership will face formidable challenges, including tackling corruption, reforming public institutions, and navigating Serbia's delicate relations with the European Union, Russia, and China. Its stance on Kosovo - whose independence Belgrade refuses to recognize - will also remain under intense international scrutiny.
Political analysts note that this historic shift could completely redefine Serbia's domestic and foreign policy landscape in the coming years. The international community is closely monitoring the transition of power in Belgrade as the new coalition prepares to take the oath of office.