Serbia's Student Movement Wins Parliamentary Elections, Ending 14-Year Dominance of Ruling Party

Serbia's student-led political movement has secured a decisive parliamentary election victory, defeating the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and opening the way for a major political transition in the Balkan country.

The Students' List won 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while the Serbian Progressive Party secured 103 seats. The remaining seats went to ethnic minority political groups.

The victory represents a major setback for the political establishment associated with former president Aleksandar Vučić, whose party had dominated Serbian politics for approximately 14 years.

The student movement emerged following widespread protests triggered by a deadly railway station canopy collapse in 2024, which killed 16 people and fuelled public anger over alleged corruption and government accountability.

Students and opposition supporters subsequently organised demonstrations demanding transparent investigations, stronger democratic institutions and greater accountability from political leaders.

The movement's electoral victory has raised expectations for political reforms, although its leaders now face the challenge of translating public demands into effective governance.

Serbia's future political direction will also have implications for its European Union accession ambitions and its relations with Russia and China.

The newly elected parliament is expected to begin its work later this month as negotiations over the formation of a new government continue.