Serbia's student movement topples Vucic's decade-long rule in historic upset

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat to a student-led movement, amid growing youth protests worldwide. The election comes at a time when student-led demonstrations over a myriad of issues have made headlines in Europe and beyond.

In Short

• Student List wins 135-140 seats, ending Vucic's decade-long dominance
• Student protests driven by corruption, education and accountability concerns
• Student List led by civil society members backed by student bodies

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat to a student-led movement in a historic election, ending his decade-long dominance of the country’s politics.

Vucic acknowledged defeat on Sunday after preliminary results showed the Student List winning the parliamentary election. The movement emerged from nearly two years of protests following the deaths of 16 people in a railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad in 2024.

“It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has won,” Vucic said in a televised address. Vucic said the student-backed candidates were expected to win between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, while his Serbian Progressive Party would secure 105.

The announcement prompted celebrations across Belgrade, with tens of thousands of people gathering in the streets. The result marks a major setback for Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics as prime minister or president since 2014.

Incidentally, the Student List party didn't actually field student candidates in the election. Formed on the back of massive student-led protests in Serbia, it is represented by a cross-section of civil society members backed by student bodies. Its lead candidate is Ilija Srdanovic, a 56-year-old cardiologist and university professor.

The Serbian election outcome comes amid a wider wave of student mobilisation, with demonstrations in several European countries challenging governments over education, living costs, public spending and political decisions.

A tiny landlocked country located in the Balkan Peninsula, Serbia has a population of around 6.6 million -- much less than that of many Indian metro cities. It became an independent state in 2006 following its separation from Montenegro. Before that, Serbia was part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was renamed Serbia and Montenegro in 2003.

STUDENTS TAKE TO STREETS ACROSS EUROPE

The election results in Serbia are notable because they come at a time when protests organised or led by students have made headlines in several countries in the world.

In France, protests gained momentum on September 21 after students at Lycee Saint-Exupery in Creteil demonstrated against teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings.

The movement subsequently drew support from trade unions and people affected by inflation.

On October 17 and then in the subsequent weekend, around 5.5 lakh people took part in 110 demonstrations across France, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. Organisers estimated the turnout at eight lakh.

While many marches remained peaceful, violence broke out in Paris, Marseille, Limoges and other cities. The Associated Press reported around 400 arrests.

Italy also witnessed student demonstrations on October 16 and then, on October 24 over education funding, military expenditure and government policies.

During the protests, students opposed a proposed cap on foreign pupils in some classrooms and called for greater investment in education.

Demonstrations in Milan escalated the following day, with masked protesters throwing stones at police and setting barricades on fire.

In Albania, thousands of young demonstrators gathered outside the Education Ministry in Tirana on October 17, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.

The protests followed months of anger over corruption, unemployment and a controversial coastal development associated with Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

Police used tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon after protesters threw stones at riot police, Reuters reported.

Germany, Austria and Greece have also witnessed student mobilisation, although on a smaller scale.

Demonstrators in Germany opposed preparations for compulsory military service and demanded greater education spending.

Students in Austria raised concerns about university budget cuts, while those in Greece protested over accommodation costs, housing shortages and education policies.

INDIA’S NEET ROW TRIGGERS YOUTH-LED UPRISING

India witnessed a major youth-led protest movement in 2026 after the leak of the NEET-UG medical entrance examination paper triggered widespread anger among students.

The controversy intensified after the examination was cancelled, forcing around two million candidates to face uncertainty and a retest.

The crisis also drew attention to wider concerns over examination security, technical failures and the pressure faced by students competing for limited college seats.

The protests were led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement that began online and developed into a national campaign for education reforms and accountability.

Students gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and staged demonstrations in other cities.

They demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stricter action against those responsible for paper leaks, reforms to the examination system and financial assistance for families of students who died by suicide amid the crisis.

On July 20, thousands of protesters attempted to march towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators, with reports of injuries and detentions.

The protests continued despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising fast-track courts to deal with examination fraud and stricter punishment for those responsible.

The movement secured a major demand on July 25, when Pradhan resigned as education minister amid sustained protests.

The resignation showed how sustained student mobilisation could translate into a direct political consequence.

WHAT SERBIA’S RESULT MEANS

Serbia’s election stands out because the student movement has moved beyond street demonstrations to secure a decisive electoral victory.

The Student List comprises 250 candidates, including academics, actors and farmers, and is led by Ilija Srdanovic. Its stated priorities include tackling corruption, strengthening the rule of law and improving education.

However, questions remain over who will lead the next government and how the movement will implement its agenda.

It will also have to navigate Serbia’s relationships with China, Russia and the European Union.

The election result does not establish that student movements across different countries share a common leadership or political programme.

Their demands vary, ranging from education and housing to corruption and government accountability.

Yet the developments point to a growing willingness among young people to challenge established political structures.

In Serbia, that mobilisation has translated into an electoral victory, placing the student-backed movement in a position to test whether the energy of the streets can be converted into effective governance.

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