Serbia's Student List begins government plans after historic election win

Serbia's grassroots Student List movement is preparing for negotiations to establish a new administration following an unexpected parliamentary victory that brought an end to 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vucic and his party.

Supporters celebrated in Belgrade on Monday after election projections revealed a clear majority for the opposition movement. With all ballot samples evaluated, the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy projected the Student List secured 53 percent of the vote, securing 141 seats in the 250-member assembly. Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party took 39 percent, or 103 seats, with remaining positions going to minority parties. Vucic conceded defeat on Sunday evening.

The victory concludes two years of mounting public anger sparked by the deadly collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. However, the movement enters power with no prior governing background. It operated intentionally without a traditional hierarchy or single figurehead, drawing candidates from academia, the arts, agriculture and student bodies.

Among its notable representatives are cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, who led the candidate slate, former central bank head Dejan Soskic, and Belgrade University chemistry professor Radomir Saicic, who addressed the public following the win. The movement has not yet designated candidates for prime minister or ministerial posts.

Candidate Ana Mirkovic, an educational specialist and psychologist, said the incoming administration views the outcome as an immense public obligation rather than an acquisition of privilege. She emphasized that initial efforts would focus on national social recovery and rebuilding civic trust.

The movement campaigned on an anti-corruption agenda, pledging to restore judicial autonomy, create a prosecutorial-led police unit separate from the interior ministry, and remove organised crime links from law enforcement. It also promised independent oversight of major state infrastructure deals and a ban on partisan appointments in state-owned enterprises. Divisive foreign policy debates were largely sidelined during the campaign to concentrate on domestic reforms.

Vucic, who stepped aside from the presidency to seek the prime minister's office, attributed his loss to foreign meddling by European nations and American factions. Serbia faces a tight legal schedule: parliament must assemble within 30 days of confirmed results, with a government formed within 90 days thereafter. The country must additionally organise presidential elections before 27 December.

Foreign reactions emerged quickly on Monday. The Kremlin expressed hope for continued bilateral cooperation, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the democratic transition. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed Berlin's intention to assist Serbia's European integration following the vote.