Vucic Concedes as 250 Student-Backed Candidates Seize Control of Serbia

Tens of thousands of people crowded the main boulevards of Belgrade on Sunday night, halting trams and traffic in a celebration that filled the air with smoke and flares. The gathering marked the immediate aftermath of parliamentary elections, where Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat to a coalition of 250 student-backed candidates.

Vucic, who has served as prime minister or president since 2014, led the country through a period of strong economic growth. However, his tenure faced mounting pressure following the collapse of a railway station awning in November 2024, an accident that killed 16 people. That tragedy sparked a two-year peaceful protest movement demanding his resignation and an end to what organizers described as rampant corruption, a charge Vucic has consistently denied.

The election result signals a major political shift in the nation of approximately six million people. At the winning group's headquarters, many of the newly elected officials, who include lawyers, professors, actors, and farmers, embraced one another in disbelief. Milica, a law student, described the moment as the best thing to happen in her life, stating that the group would now breathe freely.

Nebojsa Cosic, waving a flag in the streets, declared that the people had defeated a dictator and would lead Serbia. The diverse group of candidates now faces the task of transitioning from a protest movement to a governing body.

The coalition is scheduled to begin its work tomorrow, moving from celebration to the practical challenges of ruling the country.