Student List Wins 141 Seats and Starts Serbia's 90-Day Government Clock

The Student List secured 141 of the 250 seats in the Serbian parliament, a result that triggers a 90-day deadline for the new government to take office.

With 100% of ballot samples counted, the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy in Belgrade reported the student movement captured 53% of the vote. The Serbian Progressive party, led by former president Aleksandar Vučić, received 39% and 103 seats. The remaining seats were allocated to national minority party lists.

Vučić conceded defeat late on Sunday, ending his 14-year hold on Serbian politics. His tenure was defined by a consolidation of power over the media, judiciary, and state institutions, a period that concluded after two years of anti-government protests. Those demonstrations were sparked by the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people.

Supporters took to the streets in Belgrade and other cities on Monday following the landslide victory. The Student List operates without a formal hierarchy or single leader. Its candidate slate included students, academics, actors, and farmers. Prominent figures include Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist who headed the list; Dejan Šoškić, a former central bank governor; and Radomir Saičić, a chemistry professor at Belgrade University who addressed the public after the win.

Ana Mirković, a university educationist and candidate, stated that the movement views its victory as a responsibility rather than a privilege. She described the goal as a "historic debt" to the people and their children. Mirković identified the immediate priority as the "social and psychological detoxification" of the country. She said the new government intends to dismantle a "system of intimidation" by opening up the media and stopping institutional violence.

The platform pledges to fight corruption and restore the rule of law. Specific measures include creating an independent police unit accountable to prosecutors, purging officers linked to organized crime, and banning party loyalists from state-owned companies. The list also aims to establish new independent bodies to oversee major state infrastructure contracts and financial flows.

Analysts note the movement faces the challenge of overhauling institutions staffed by civil servants loyal to the outgoing regime. Dušan Vučićević, an analyst, said the movement focused on domestic political issues first. He noted that while the grassroots model secured over 50% of the vote, it remains unclear if this structure can work elsewhere. Nikola Burazer, programme director at the Centre for Contemporary Politics in Belgrade, observed that the decision-making process needs to be sped up, as candidate selection took months.

International leaders responded on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the result a new chapter in Serbian history. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would actively support Serbia's European path, noting that the students' demand for the rule of law had reached the people. The Kremlin expressed hope that the new leaders understand that cooperation with Russia is in Serbia's interests.

Vučić blamed his defeat on the direct support of European countries and the US deep state. He maintained close ties with Russia throughout his tenure. Serbia's constitution requires the new parliament to convene within 30 days of the official election result. The country must also hold new presidential elections before 27 December, as Vučić stepped down to run for prime minister.