The Serbia election produced a major political upset Sunday as Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat to the student-backed Student List, ending more than a decade of dominance by his political movement.
Speaking after polling stations closed on October 25, Vučić said a stratified sample showed that his electoral list had lost and that the Student List had won.
He said the Student List was expected to win between 135 and 140 seats in Serbia’s 250-member National Assembly, while his United Serbia list was projected to take about 105 seats.
The figures are not final results, and Serbia’s Republic Electoral Commission still has to complete the official count and publish the certified outcome.
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Serbia Election: Student List projected to win a parliamentary majority
The preliminary projection would give the Student List enough seats to form a government without relying on a broad coalition, although the final allocation of mandates could change as ballots are verified.
Vučić also said the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians was expected to enter parliament with three seats, while an Albanian minority representative was projected to win one seat.
The election was held after Vučić dissolved parliament and called early parliamentary elections for October 25, 2026.
The vote was originally expected to form part of a later national election cycle, but months of demonstrations and political pressure accelerated the timetable.
High turnout marked a closely watched vote
Serbia’s electoral commission reported that 56.38 per cent of registered voters had cast ballots by 4 p.m. local time, excluding Kosovo and Metohija.
The commission had recorded 6,450,523 registered voters for the election.
The contest pitted Vučić’s governing political network against a movement that grew out of university-led demonstrations and calls for stronger accountability, institutional independence and action over corruption allegations.
The student-backed ticket sought to convert its protest movement into parliamentary power by presenting a list of experts, academics and other non-partisan candidates.
Vučić’s concession is politically significant because he and his Serbian Progressive Party had dominated national politics since he first became prime minister in 2014 and later president.
What happens next in Serbia
The Republic Electoral Commission is expected to release preliminary and then final results after reviewing polling-station records and any complaints.
International observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights are scheduled to publish preliminary findings on October 26.
Once the final results are confirmed, Serbia’s newly elected lawmakers will begin the process of constituting parliament and forming a government.
The country’s presidency is also in transition after Vučić resigned on September 27 to participate in the parliamentary campaign as an ordinary citizen.
National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabić assumed the role of acting president, while a separate presidential election must be held under Serbia’s constitutional timetable.
The immediate challenge for the Student List will be turning a protest coalition into a functioning governing majority.
Its supporters will also face pressure to clarify positions on the economy, relations with the European Union, Kosovo, regional security and Serbia’s relationship with Russia.
For Vučić, the result represents a sharp reversal even if his political list remains the largest opposition force in the incoming assembly.
The final count, the handling of complaints and the formation of the next government will determine whether Sunday’s result becomes a lasting transfer of power or the beginning of another period of political uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Serbia’s 2026 parliamentary election held?
Serbia held its early parliamentary election on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Who won the Serbia election?
Aleksandar Vučić conceded that the student-backed Student List had won, but the official final results were still pending at the time of the concession.
How many seats is the Student List projected to win?
Vučić said the Student List was projected to win between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member National Assembly.
What was voter turnout in Serbia?
The Republic Electoral Commission reported turnout of 56.38 per cent by 4 p.m. on October 25, excluding Kosovo and Metohija.
What happens after the election?
The electoral commission must complete the count and resolve any complaints before the new parliament is constituted and a government is formed.
Fact-Checked: Key election dates, turnout figures, the parliamentary seat projection and the leadership transition were checked against Serbian government, electoral commission and OSCE information.
Disclaimer: Seat projections and political consequences may change until Serbia’s Republic Electoral Commission publishes final certified results.