Vucic concedes defeat as student movement ends 14-year rule in Serbia
Briefing by News4U · First published
Serbia's ruling party lost snap parliamentary elections to a student-led movement after record turnout, with Vucic conceding defeat based on preliminary results.
Serbia's ruling Serbian Progressive Party lost snap parliamentary elections to the student-backed Students' List after record turnout, with President Aleksandar Vucic conceding defeat late Sunday based on preliminary results showing the opposition winning 135-140 seats to his party's 105. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The vote followed nearly two years of student protests sparked by the 2024 Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, widely blamed on corruption. Nearly 65 percent of 6.4 million registered voters cast ballots, the highest turnout since 1993. [1] [2] [4]
Celebrations erupted in Belgrade with car horns and chants of "victory" as students gathered at their headquarters, while isolated incidents were reported but no major violence confirmed. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Sources
- Student-led movement ends ruling party's 14-year grip on Serbian politics
SBS News · · Excerpt
- Serbia election: Vucic concedes defeat to student-led movement
DW English · · Full text
- Serbia's veteran ruler Vučić concedes election to student-led protest movement
BBC World · · Full text
- Serbia's longtime strongman Vucic concedes election defeat to student-led opposition
CBC World · · Full text