Serbia's Student List wins 141 seats to challenge 14-year authoritarian rule

Serbians now face a 90-day window to form a new government after the Student List won 53% of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary election. The movement secured 141 seats in the 250-member parliament, defeating the Serbian Progressive Party, which took 39% of the vote and 103 seats. This result ends the 14-year tenure of former president Aleksandar Vučić, who conceded defeat late Sunday.

The Student List operates without a formal hierarchy or designated leader. Its candidate list included students, academics, actors, and farmers, with Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist, heading the ballot. Dejan Šoškić, a former central bank governor, and Radomir Saičić, a chemistry professor at Belgrade University, also serve as prominent figures. The lack of a traditional top-down structure raises questions about who will be appointed as prime minister and which officials will fill cabinet roles.

Ana Mirković, a university educationist and candidate for the list, described the mandate as a "historic debt" to the Serbian people rather than a gain of privilege. She stated that the movement’s first priority is the "social and psychological detoxification" of the country. Mirković outlined plans to dismantle what she called a "system of intimidation" by opening up media and ending pressure on public-sector workers.

The movement’s platform focuses on financial accountability and anti-corruption measures. It proposes creating an independent police unit answerable to prosecutors instead of the interior ministry. The list also aims to purge police officers linked to organized crime and ban party loyalists from leading state-owned companies. New independent bodies will oversee all major state infrastructure contracts to ensure public scrutiny.

The Student List faces administrative hurdles similar to those encountered by Péter Magyar’s Tisza party in Hungary. Public institutions remain staffed with civil servants loyal to the outgoing regime. Dušan Vučićević, an analyst, noted that the movement insisted on addressing domestic political issues first, focusing on dismantling institutions from the national to the local level. He observed that while the model secured over 50% of the vote, its replicability in other countries remains unclear.

Nikola Burazer, programme director at the Belgrade-based Centre for Contemporary Politics, said the movement’s decision-making process needs to be sped up. He noted that choosing candidates took months. Burazer stated that once celebrations subside, attention will turn to the practical structure of the government, a task that seemed like a fantasy only 24 hours prior.

Vučić blamed his defeat on direct support from European countries and the US. He specifically cited the US "deep state" as a factor in the outcome. International leaders offered support on Monday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, called the result a new chapter in history and wished Serbia success in its development. Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said Berlin would actively support Serbia’s path toward the European community.

The Student List deliberately kept foreign policy issues, including relations with the EU and Russia, in the background during the campaign. The Kremlin expressed hope on Monday that new leaders would understand that cooperation with Russia serves Serbia’s interests. Vučić maintained close ties with Moscow throughout his time in power.

Serbia’s constitution requires the new parliament to convene within 30 days of the official election result. Following that, the government must be formed within 90 days. The country is also required to hold new presidential elections before December 27, as Vučić stepped down from the presidency to run for prime minister.